The Detroit Lions’ regular season may have come to an end, but the excitement of the offseason has already kicked in.
One notable development on Tuesday was the confirmation that offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will be returning to the Lions. However, that wasn’t the only headline of the day. The team also made significant moves by signing 11 players to futures contracts.
To clarify, a futures deal is a contractual arrangement that allows teams to retain their practice squad players or bring in individuals they are interested in evaluating during training camp. The key advantage of these deals is that they don’t impact the team’s salary cap.
Here’s a rundown of the players the Lions inked to futures contracts:
- Linebacker Mitchel Agude
- Wide receiver Maurice Alexander
- Offensive lineman Matt Fairnok
- Running back Jake Funk
- Cornerback Craig James
- Wide receiver Tom Kennedy
- Safety Brandon Joseph
- Offensive lineman Michael Niese
- Defensive lineman Chris Smith
- Offensive lineman Conor Galvin
- Running back Jermar Jefferson
It’s worth noting that the Lions essentially secured the majority of their practice squad players with these signings. However, it’s important to recognize that some notable players, such as Michael Schofield and Zach Ertz, were not included in the futures deals.
This omission should not be mistaken for the team parting ways with these individuals entirely. The Lions may still have plans for them in the future.
Hopefully, the Lions will be able to put together another strong offseason this year. They have drafted well in recent years and have been able to add talent that has fit their roster. If they can have another strong offseason, they could be right back in Super Bowl contention next season.
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