There have been a variety of changes aimed at setting indoor leagues apart from others. Some have worked, the rouge or the deuce, and some have failed, such as the four-point conversion in AFL 3.0. This idea and plan, is something that is not the norm, and may just change the way Indoor and arena football functions as a whole.
If you read the title you know we are talking about the AAL draft of American Arena League 2 players that will be coming in April. Yes, in the past we have had minor leagues to major leagues, like the AFL and af2 from 2000 until 2009. This is entirely different, what we have now is an opportunity not many players get, to go from Developmental to Pro in a single day.
The idea is to take players who played the 2025 American Arena League 2 season and have them enter a draft for the AAL. The April 19th date of the draft also allows new players the ability to show out in the first two weeks of the American Arena League 2 season in preparation for the draft.
Table of Contents
Draft Structure
The draft will commence with all four American Arena League teams present at the Beck Center, an indoor practice facility built by new Columbus Lions Majority owner Roger Beck, in Columbus, Georgia.
Each of the four AAL teams will have five rounds to select players with no limit on how many players from each team. While this may drain talent from AAL2 teams, the stated goal of the American Arena League 2 as a league is to provide professional opportunities to players. While some AAL2 teams do not pay their players, others provide opportunities for income via NIL deals, or game checks.
The draft will only select from a pool of players who have applied for the process, so players who may have a more advantageous setup with the American Arena League 2 team in their home state can simply opt out of applying for the draft. Any American Arena League 2 player is eligible to apply, although it is expected there will be a small fee to do so.
The catch to this draft is that you have to be signed to, or have played for an American Arena League 2 franchise in the previous or current season. Details will be limited as of now, but you can expect more details to come out via the league podcast American Arena League 5th Quarter produced and hosted by Shady Sports Network.
How it could affect each league:
American Arena League:
It’s no secret that this is the first season of the American Arena League reboot. One thing most reboot leagues struggle with is pulling top-end talent. With a talent elevation draft, it will no doubt improve the quality of the on-field product
A draft might also be enticing to any franchise making a jump over from a rival league or up from the American Arena League 2. Typically move-ups struggle In thier first season against more established teams, for example, Wheeling in the 2025 NAL. Owners and GMs may like the idea of a more evenly distributed talent pool of players who have already proven themselves in a feeder league
Another under rated aspect of this draft is the content that will come from this for each team. With the draft being live streamed there are sure to be plenty of intriguing moments caught on camera in team war rooms, or as picks are announced. Teams can also get creative with who announces their picks. Similar to with the NFL draft we could potentially see teams opt to give away the rights to announce a draft pick, or bring in former stars of the team to announce a pick.
No word yet as to if fans will be able to attend the event in person. Although this could be another way for the event to create value for the teams involved, and the league itself.
AAL2:
This move not only helps the American Arena League, but it may be a catalyst that pushes the AAL2 to new heights. The entire purpose of developmental leagues is to provide opportunities for these players to elevate to the next level. Now you have a built in draft to ensure these players will be at least considered by professional teams each season.
This could in turn entice players who may otherwise have passed on playing in the American Arena League 2 to change their minds. We should expect to see a rise in the overall talent level of the league in 2026, and this is evidenced by a coach like Tom Menas being hired by the American Arena League 2.
It’s not all about the owners, or coaches, you can’t have a team or a league without talent. Above everything else we at Shady Sports fully believe that this will attract the best talent Developmental Indoor football has to offer.
If you take it from the players’ perspective a roster spot in this league goes from a few looks and a bit of tape, to the ability to put yourself on full display for PRO teams. We will see players who have almost given up on their dreams of a pro signing move up. We wouldn’t be at all surprised to see stories similar to that of Tyler Lauenstein in the coming years.
Quick Reference List:
AAL Commissioner: Kevin O’Hanlon
AAL2 Commissioner: AJ Roque
Draft Date: April 19th
Location: Beck Center; Columbus, Ga
-5 rounds
-AAL2 players only
-No restriction on the number of players selected from a single team.
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This article is also brought to you by the AAL’s own Columbus Lions! We have partnered with the Lions to get their team in front of as many eyes as possible for the 2026 season in preparation for their move to the American Arena League. With that in mind please take a moment to check out their website, and support the Columbus Lions by purchasing tickets or merchandise today!
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