The Dallas Cowboys made their first moves after losing to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs by announcing the signing of eight players to reserve/future contracts. Jalen Moreno-Cropper and Racey McMath, two receivers, are among the players that signed new contracts.
Before the NFL playoffs, the Cowboys signed wide receiver McMath to the practice squad. In addition, Dallas signed linebacker Buddy Johnson, defensive back Sheldrick Redwine, tight end Princeton Fant, tackle Earl Bostick, cornerback Josh Butler, and pass rusher Durrell Johnson to reserve contracts.
A Reserve/Future contract: what is it? Most of these players were part of the Cowboys practice squad, and their rights are retained by the organization through a Reserve agreement for the upcoming campaign.
In an article titled “NFL Futures Contract: Everything You Need To Know,” published on January 8, 2023, Ben Rolfe of Pro Football Network clarified, “The reason it is designated as a ‘futures contract’ is that the player is not officially under contract until the start of the following league season.”
The player’s contract does not count against the salary cap or the roster limit for the current season, which makes differentiation crucial. Rather, it is applied to the salary cap of the subsequent year, and the player is deducted from the 90-man roster cap during the summer.
It is important to remember, though, that a player who signs a futures contract is put on a reserve/futures list and is not allowed to negotiate with other teams. Teams don’t use practice squads.
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