March 18, 2025
By Evan Lepler
Today is not a national holiday—yet—but the UFA’s roster release day marks an important moment as the unofficial start of the 2025 season. Around the league, tryouts are mostly if not completely finished, teams have been selected, and the seeds of summer success are being carefully watered during meticulously planned training weekends.
Examining the entire landscape, it’s abundantly clear that the snow globe of roster churn has settled in fascinating fashion. More top players have changed teams than ever before, and that’s also true for several lesser-hyped role players, the types of glue guys that will inevitably help swing the 2025 championship chase.
Furthermore, it’s important to remember that while rosters have been released as of today, that does not mean the shake-ups or surprises are 100 percent over. Last year, the two-time reigning champs lost two MVPs between mid-March and mid-April, with Jeff Babbitt leaving New York for Boston after a fallout with New York and Ryan Osgar choosing to step away from competition for personal reasons.
Are their other Babbitt or Osgar-sized shockers looming in the weeks ahead? Time will most certainly tell.
In the meantime, today’s Toss is focused on the players who have definitely changed teams ahead of the 2025 season. It’s a pretty incredible and accomplished group of players, including the 2024 Rookie of the Year, the UFA’s all-time leaders in goals and assists, the last two male winners of the Callahan Award—the Heisman Trophy of college ultimate—and a bunch of other exceptional talents.
One quick ground rule: with apologies to guys like DC’s Christian Boxley and Chicago’s Nate Goff, who are returning to the Breeze and Union, respectively, after taking last season off, this list is solely shining light on the players who will be wearing a different jersey than the last time they took the field in the UFA.
Alrighty, let’s dive into 30 key names who are making meaningful moves, shifting the tectonic plates of the competitive landscape in ways that will inevitably impact who’s ultimately advancing to Championship Weekend this coming August.
Players are listed alphabetically within each group.
The Blue Chippers
Calvin Brown — From Los Angeles to New York
The last we saw Brown in the UFA, he was helping the Aviators stun the Summit to advance to the 2023 West Division title game. While he’s never previously played more than eight games in a season, the 24 year old is an undeniably gifted player, who could potentially pair perfectly with John Randolph in leading the 2025 Empire D-line.
Justin Burnett — From Atlanta to Minnesota
Plagued by injury after a scintillating start to the 2024 campaign, Burnett will hopefully be back healthy this spring in the Twin Cities, where he should immediately become another tantalizing weapon for the defending champs. Just 22 years old and with 42 UFA blocks already on his résumé, the 2023 Callahan winner plays with a fearless confidence and has an incredibly bright future.
Tobias Brooks — From Carolina to Colorado
Speaking of bright futures, Brooks might be the first draft pick in a “Pick a player to build your team around for the next 10 years” draft. He’s ultimate frisbee’s Cooper Flagg, superbly skilled and fiercely competitive, and will be an absolute anchor for the Summit this season, especially after the college season ends in late May.
Tobe Decraene — From Montreal to Boston
Named the unanimous "Rookie Of The Year" following a 52-assist, 17-goal, 18-block debut journey as a member of the Royal, Decraene joins the Glory looking to double or triple his number of wins from one year to the next. Like Brooks, the young Belgian is stunningly just 21 years old, but plays like someone in his athletic prime; consequently, it’s scary to contemplate how he will continue to evolve and how good he can be as he continues to mature in the years ahead.
Pawel Janas — From Los Angeles to Chicago
Should Janas, with his 504 career assists, mosts in UFA history, still be considered a blue chipper? We shall see. At 31, he’s definitely the old man in this particular quintet, but his history as a prolific passer, leader, and character compel me to give him the benefit of the doubt. At the same time, it’s very possible he’s not even the most important former Aviator handler joining the Union this season.
All-Star Additions
Cam Brock — From Indianapolis to Atlanta
After catching 644 career goals, all as an AlleyCat, the legendary Brock will don another jersey in game for the first time ever this season. Though I’m not 100 percent convinced the transition to a new team, system, and division will be totally seamless, I do think the Hustle will find a way for Brock to fit in as productive part of their O-line. Considering Atlanta has arguably the toughest schedule in UFA history, though, it’s imperative Brock find his comfort zone as quickly as possible if his new team is going to reach its enormous potential.
Aidan Downey — From Atlanta to DC
To put it simply, I am super psyched to see Downey in DC. The 2024 Callahan winner could slot into the Breeze O-line alongside Rowan McDonnell, Jacques Nissen, and Cole Jurek, or they could use his creative energy on defense, quarterbacking that unit with Thomas Edmonds and AJ Merriman. Either way, I am buying stock in the young Georgia alum, who’s poised for a breakout UFA season with the Breeze.
Khalif El-Salaam — From Seattle to San Diego
After helping the Cascades make Championship Weekend last summer, El-Salaam returns to SoCal, where he helped the Growlers win the West back in 2021. And although the 31 year old was recently denied in his quest to make the USA World Games squad for the second straight cycle, I cannot help but wonder whether that is a subtle blessing for San Diego, who could get a more motivated and available El-Salaam looking to prove that he’s still an All-Star.
James Pollard — From Philadelphia to Minnesota
Big Game James will almost certainly have a very different role with the Wind Chill compared to the high-volume presence he’s maintained with the Phoenix over the past several years, but the 28-year-old Pollard has the size, speed, and fuel to be a significant factor for the reigning champs. If he can average one block a game and be a defensive force at the end of quarters—not to mention against Chicago’s athletic receivers in those marquee matchups—then Minnesota could definitely return to Championship Weekend for the third straight season.
Max Sheppard — From Pittsburgh to New York
After 101 games and 589 scores as a member of the Thunderbirds, Sheppard’s decision to join the Empire is relentlessly interesting. Like Brock and Pollard, he will be surrounded by superior talent with his new team, and it will be fascinating to see how he fits. But as I mentioned during a recent Swing Pass pod—if you didn’t realize, I’m now co-hosting the weekly show alongside Adam Ruffner—Sheppard’s career completion rate in the high 80s won’t work in New York. But I do believe he is capable of playing more efficiently, and that version of Shep would be a huge boon for the 2025 Empire.
Quality Vets
Jace Bruner — From Oakland to Chicago
There’s definitely a "bringing the old band back together" feel in Chicago, and Bruner is an underrated part of that. He produced 29 blocks for the Union in 22 games across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Now 25 years old, turning 26 in July, Bruner will be an important D-line weapon for the Union.
Sean Connole — From Salt Lake to Atlanta
He tossed 95 assists in 40 games over three really solid seasons for the Shred. Yet, while it’s not totally fair to him, my lasting memory of Connole’s tenure in Salt Lake is his injury-marred performance in the 2023 championship game, which featured a pair of costly first quarter drops. But looking forward, if he’s healthy, he will absolutely be a massive addition for the Hustle, who clearly have a hole to fill in the handler set after Bobby Ley’s retirement. Connole, who turns 30 in April, arrives in Atlanta with a big arm and plenty of big-game experience, two things that will be valuable for a Hustle franchise that’s determined to break through.
Xavier Payne — From Indianapolis to Chicago
Part of me regrets not hyping Payne more as an AlleyCat. He’s a damn good player, capable of anchoring an offense or defense with his throws, instincts, and athleticism. But he’s only been involved in one playoff win in his seven seasons in the league. He’ll definitely have an opportunity to double or triple that with the Union this summer.
Joel Clutton — From Salt Lake to Vegas
His legacy includes three Championship Weekend trips with Dallas and the most famous deflection in UFA history in the 2022 semifinals with Salt Lake. But Clutton has only played in five games since the 2022 finals, and he joins a Bighorns roster that has very few other players with pro frisbee experience.
Marcel Osborne — From Los Angeles to San Diego
When he’s been available, Osborne’s been a very valuable contributor. He’s still only 28 years old, and the last time he wore a Growlers jersey—in 2019—San Diego won advanced to Championship Weekend. He’s probably not an All-UFA contender, but the Growlers would definitely be a better team with Osborne on the gameday roster, particularly as they move into the South Division in 2025.
Intriguing Youth
Gavin Abrahamsson — From Philadelphia to Boston
He’s probably not a major factor until after the college season ends, but the 21-year-old Abrahamsson is brimming with potential. If the Glory can unlock him as a weapon over the course of the back-half of their schedule, he’s definitely someone who could make a key play in the playoffs.
Simon Dastrup — From Salt Lake to Chicago
In a strange way, this feels like a bigger loss for the Shred than a pickup for the Union. To be clear, he’ll definitely add value as a young athlete returning to his hometown team. But he was emerging as a more consistent threat with Salt Lake down the stretch last season. Presumably, that role would have only grown if he had remained in Utah. Now, where does he fit amidst all the playmakers in Chicago? He’ll certainly play, but whereas he could have become a featured star for the Shred, he’ll more likely be a supporting actor for the Union.
Ian McCosky — From Minnesota to Madison
McCosky might be the opposite of Dastrup in terms of the role he’ll likely earn with his new team compared to the responsibilities he had in Minnesota. While he’s never previously thrown double-digit assists in a season, I would be stunned if the 24 year old did not reach that plateau this year. I also wouldn’t be surprised if his assist total matched his age by the end of the season.
William Wettengel — From Indianapolis to Chicago
He’s got 28 blocks the past two seasons, and he’s been a teenager in every UFA game he’s ever played. I believe that Chicago stealing the 20-year-old Wettengel from Indy is one of the top coups of the offseason. A Second-Team All-Defense honoree in 2023, more postseason awards are very likely in Wettengel’s future, assuming he stays healthy.
Albert Yuan — From Carolina to Boston
We last saw Yuan when he competed in six games for the Flyers in 2023, and while the stats weren’t overwhelming, I remember liking his game as a squirrelly handler defender. He was also a member of the 2023 USA U-23 squad that won gold, and he’s another nice add for the Glory in the never-ending East Division arms race.
Under The Radar/Moves That Matter
Lucas Coniaris — From Indianapolis to Oregon
Coming off his most productive season with the AlleyCats, Coniaris turns 25 in May and brings a real solid skillset to the Pacific Northwest. If the Steel are gonna surprise some folks this summer, I think Coniaris will be a big factor in helping Oregon become more competitive.
Zach Slayton — From Austin to Colorado
There is no doubt that the Sol missed Slayton in 2024; he took the season off after scoring six goals in three playoff games during the team’s 2023 run to Championship Weekend. But Slayton reemerging with the Summit is a big deal, and he’ll likely become an important player for Colorado immediately.
Keenan Laurence — From Oakland to Colorado
Like Slayton, Laurence stepped away from the UFA during the 2024 season, but his past production—he averaged 47 scores per season in four years as a Spider—jumps off the page. Laurence just turned 24 last month and gives the Summit another offensive playmaker with size, strength, and experience.
Everest Shapiro — From Los Angeles to New York
While the departures of Babbitt and Osgar understandably got the most attention, last year’s Empire squad also desperately missed John Lithio, the big man who bolted to Chicago after winning the previous two championships with New York. Could Shapiro help fill that hole as a big O-line cutter who’s also a capable thrower? After 120 scores over the past three seasons in LA, I think Shapiro could make a massive impact in the Big Apple.
Sam VanDusen — From Pittsburgh to Colorado
Despite only playing 65 career games—all with the Thunderbirds—VanDusen has launched 950 pulls in his UFA career, fourth-most in the league’s history. He was a pivotal piece of the Thunderbirds playoff runs to three Central Division title games in four years form 2016 to 2019. And as he resurfaces in Colorado, the now 31-year-old VanDusen is yet another key addition for the Summit.
High Ceiling Question Marks
Gavin May — From Oakland to New York
He averaged nearly two blocks a game during his two seasons with the Spiders. If he could do half that with the Empire—he is coming off an injury—it would be a very significant pickup for New York.
Chase Cunningham and Dalton Smith — From Austin and Chicago, respectively, to Houston
Pairing these two Texans together feels right, considering neither of them has played in a single game over the past two UFA seasons. But they are still both big names in the sport, two guys who’ve done big things throughout their frisbee careers. If they are healthy and available, their presence alone adds considerable credibility to the Havoc as they try to compete for a playoff spot in the South.
Calvin Stoughton- From Colorado to Boston
He’s only played in four career UFA games—all with the Summit in 2023—but a healthy Stoughton would be another huge chip for Boston. You can’t have too many good players, and there’s no doubt that Stoughton, if available, can help elevate the Glory’s ceiling in a major way.
Brandon Van Deusen — From Los Angeles to Chicago
You could definitely make the argument that adding the 25-year-old Van Deusen is an even bigger deal for Chicago than brining back Janas. At the same time, the reason I chose not to make that particular case at this current moment is because he’s coming off a substantial injury that basically cost him the entire 2024 season. But it was just two years ago that Van Deusen completed 657 passes at a 96.1 percent clip while throwing for over 5,000 yards.
Alec Wilson Holliday — From Dallas to Atlanta
Like every other name in this particular six-person section, Wilson Holliday did not experience victory in 2024. But while the other five names played in a grand total of one game last season, Wilson Holliday led the league with 60 goals for the winless Legion. How will his statistical prowess translate with the Hustle? It’s impossible to know the answer going into the season, but if his numbers are even half what they were with Dallas, he’ll certainly do a lot more winning with Hustle.
Honorable Mentions
Carson Chamberlain — From Detroit to Indy
Noa Chun-Moy — From Philadelphia to Madison
Jeremy Hill — From Toronto to Montreal
Asher Lantz — From Chicago to Seattle
Angelo Olcese — From New York to Carolina
Dmitry Suvorov — From Philadelphia to New York
Jake Thorne — From Oakland to Carolina
