Reserve/Future Contracts: What Are They?

Over the next few days, you will likely hear about the Jets signing players to reserve/future contracts. What does that mean?

Every team is allowed to bring 90 players to training camp. At the end of the season, teams only have 53 players on their active roster. They are allowed to start signing players for camp the next year. The players they are allowed to sign are those not currently on an active roster, such as players on their practice squad. Teams may also sign players off the practice squads of other teams or players who are out of the league.

It is called a futures deal because these players are being signed for a season that has not yet begun. These are largely camp body types, but teams are looking under every rock for talent.

Probably the most prominent player signed to a futures deal a season ago was Dion Lewis by the Patriots.