The Detroit Lions have taken a routine step in offseason roster management by signing 11 players to reserve/futures contracts on Monday. These deals are commonly used by NFL teams to secure the rights to players who ended the season on their practice squads.
Players Signed to Futures Deals
The following 11 players, all of whom were on the Lions’ practice squad at the end of the season, have been signed to futures contracts:
LB Abraham Beaplan
EDGE Isaac Ukwu
C Kinsley Eguakun
QB Jake Fromm
LB DaRon Gilbert
S Erick Hallet
OT Jamarco Jones
WR Tom Kennedy
DL Chris Smith
S Loren Strickland
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
What Are Futures Contracts?
Futures contracts allow NFL teams to retain the rights to street free agents (players not signed to active rosters when the season ends) while delaying the financial impact until the start of the next league year in March. As Erik Schlitt of *Pride of Detroit* explains, these contracts do not count against the salary cap for the 2024 season, helping teams manage their budgets and maintain flexibility.
For instance, if each of the 11 players signed to these deals receives the base minimum salary (estimated at $840,000), the total cost would amount to $9.24 million. However, this cap hit won’t take effect until the 2025 league year begins on March 12, coinciding with the start of free agency. This structure also prevents these contracts from interfering with year-end accounting, such as determining rollover cap amounts.
Players Not Signed to Futures Deals
Five practice squad players were notably not signed to futures contracts:
– **WR/KR Maurice Alexander**
– **RB Jermar Jefferson**
– **WR Donovan Peoples-Jones**
– **LB Kwon Alexander**
– **TE James Mitchell**
Although these players remain free agents, they could still be re-signed by the Lions as part of their 90-man offseason roster. For now, they are free to explore opportunities with other teams.
Active Roster Addition: Morice Norris
In addition to the futures signings, the Lions added safety **Morice Norris** to their active roster on Monday. Norris, an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State in 2024, initially joined the Lions during training camp but was released after suffering a hamstring injury. Following an injury settlement, he rejoined the practice squad and was later promoted to the active roster.
Norris played in the final two regular-season games and the Divisional Round matchup. Because he ended the season on the active roster, he was ineligible to sign a futures deal. Instead, he carried the Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA) designation before signing with the team.
This mix of futures deals and active roster management reflects the Lions’ ongoing efforts to shape their roster for the 2025 season and beyond.
Leave a Reply