After being considered one of the best tight ends in the USFL, Josh Pederson becomes the first Houston Gamblers player to depart from the team.

The Houston Gamblers Twitter page reported the news Thursday night that Pederson was removed from the roster. It appears the pass catcher is signing a contract with the NFL just before training camp.

While not being projected as a starter at the beginning of the season, Pederson emerged as one of the team’s top targets early on. He finished the season second on the team in receiving yards with 325 off of 24 receptions. Despite not catching a touchdown during the season, he average 13.5 yards per reception which is ranked seventh in the USFL. His longest play of the season was a 40-yard completion.

Pederson is well known for being the son of Super Bowl-winning coach and current Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson. Multiple times throughout the season, Doug was seen watching Josh from the stands. Doug’s deep connections with the NFL could have helped Josh find a home.

What could have helped Josh Pederson also is his play on the field. He proved quickly to be a reliable pass catcher for a team that saw inconsistency in the passing game. Pederson has the ability to block in passing situations as well as be a big play-tight end. He won’t blow you away with speed, but he can make plays happen in the open field.

Having that previous NFL experience will help him as well playing for the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, and the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s unknown which team he signed with yet, but whoever he ends up playing for, Pederson will be able to be a factor on the offensive side of the ball. Training camp will be a battle for him, but he possesses the skills to compete for a third-string or even a backup job in the NFL.