The Pittsburgh Maulers turned to a Hall of Fame quarterback to announce their first-round draft pick, and Steelers great Terry Bradshaw attempted in vain to get the pronunciation of Kyle Lauletta’s last name right.

It's hammer time in Pittsburgh ⚒ #DropTheHammer

See the moment Terry Bradshaw announced Kyle Lauletta is joining the home team. pic.twitter.com/uNntQILj9l

— USFL (@USFL) February 23, 2022

The Maulers used the No. 7 overall pick in Tuesday night’s USFL Draft on Lauletta, a 6-foot-3, 222-pounder from Downingtown East High School in Exton. After setting Richmond records by passing for 10,465 yards and 73 touchdowns and being named Senior Bowl MVP, he was a fourth-round pick (No. 108 overall) of the NFL’s New York Giants in 2018.

In Lauletta’s debut with the Giants, he replaced Eli Manning and threw five incompletions and an interception in a 40-16 win over Washington. Lauletta also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars the past three seasons, either in the offseason or on their practice squads.

It begins now, @kylelauletta. #DropTheHammer pic.twitter.com/dFVtmP9Dl5

— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) February 23, 2022

Excited to see more of this from Kyle Lauletta in a Maulers uniform ???? pic.twitter.com/ApMR1hikjg

— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) February 23, 2022

After folding in 1986, the USFL is returning in April and is conducting the 35-round draft online, using its Fox connections to add some star power with NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, WWE wrestler Big E, former Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins and former NFL stars Michael Strahan, Warren Moon, Bo Jackson and Bradshaw announcing the first-round picks.

The USFL Draft rounds went by position, with quarterbacks going in the first round, followed by edge rushers/defensive ends in Rounds 2-4, offensive tackles in Rounds 5-7, cornerbacks in Rounds 8-11 before returning to quarterbacks in Round 12. On Wednesday morning, the USFL’s eight teams will pick wide receivers, safeties, centers, inside linebackers, offensive guards, defensive tackles, running backs, outside linebackers, kickers, punters, tight ends/H-backs and long snappers.

Former Ole Miss quarterbacks were selected with the first two picks. The Michigan Panthers used the No. 1 overall selection on Shea Patterson, who started his college career at Ole Miss before transferring to Michigan. The Tampa Bay Bandits chose Jordan Ta’amu with the second pick.

Bryan Scott of Occidental went to the Philadelphia Stars third overall, followed by Ben Holmes of Tarleton State to the New Jersey Generals fourth, Clayton Thorson of Northwestern to the Houston Gamblers fifth, Alex McGough of Florida International to the Birmingham Stallions sixth. The New Orleans Breakers took Kyle Sloter of Southern Miss eighth.

We've got our first defensive player.

Welcome aboard, Carlo Kemp ???? pic.twitter.com/tcbAZVL9VQ

— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) February 23, 2022

The Maulers used their second pick on defensive end Carlo Kemp of Michigan. The 6-3, 286-pound Kemp started 29 games for the Wolverines and had 21 tackles, including three for losses, with two sacks and one quarterback hurry as a graduate student in 2020. He was named defensive MVP of the Hula Bowl and was undrafted but spent time with the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos.

Third player off the board. #DropTheHammer pic.twitter.com/yJYXeDAsd0

— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) February 23, 2022

In the third round, the Maulers picked Nasir Player of East Tennessee State. The 6-5, 271-pounder had 182 tackles, including 40 for losses, and 181⁄2 sacks and was a two-time All-American and three-time first-team All-Southern Conference selection. In the fourth round, the Maulers added Eric Assoua of Western Michigan, one spot after New Orleans selected former Pitt defensive end James Folston Jr.

With the first pick of the fifth round, the Maulers chose offensive tackle Chidi Okeke, a 6-6, 317-pounder from Tennessee State who has played with Washington, Kansas City, Miami and Tampa Bay.

In the sixth round, they took 6-7, 310-pound tackle Isaiah Battle, 29, who was taken in the fifth round of the supplemental draft by the St. Louis Rams in 2015 and spent time with the Rams, Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.

In the seventh round, the Maulers chose 6-5, 305-pound Charles Baldwin, who was the nation’s top-rated junior college offensive tackle but was dismissed from Alabama and Kansas before finishing his career at Youngstown State.

Cornerbacks came next, and the Maulers added Ajene Harris from USC in the eighth round, Terrell Bonds of Tennessee State in the ninth, Prince Robinson of Tarleton State with the final pick of the 10th and Jaylon McClain-Sapp of Marshall with the first pick of the 11th.

Former Steelers cornerback Brian Allen, a fifth-round pick in 2017, was chosen in the eighth round by the Birmingham Stallions. Former Penn State cornerback Christian Campbell, a 2017 sixth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals, was taken in the 10th round by the Tampa Bay Bandits. Former Youngstown State cornerback David Rivers went to the New Jersey Gamblers in the 10th.

In the 12th round, also reserved for quarterbacks, the Maulers selected Josh Love of San Jose State. The 6-2, 205-pounder passed for 7,206 career yards, including 3,923 yards when he was named 2019 Mountain West offensive player of the year. Love was undrafted and signed with the L.A. Rams, went to rookie camp with the Browns and signed with the Panthers’ practice squad.

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