Less than 24 hours after the Curtains closed on the NFL regular season, the Eagles have officially announced the signings of eight players to future contracts.
Roster Move: #Eagles sign the following eight players to reserve/future contracts. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/qVPrQeVHMj
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 2, 2017
All of the players signed were members of the Eagles practice squad this season..which means eight of nine have had their short-term futures secured. The ninth? Third string quarterback, Aaron Murray.
What exactly is a futures contract? It’s basically used to sign players for the upcoming season. The deals normally consist of a one/two year contract at the league minimum wage, based on the individual’s previous NFL experience. It’s a way for team’s to secure Practice squad talent ahead of the whirlwind that is Free Agency, filling some of the new holes on the 90-man roster.
Some of the familiar names that jump out to some will be former CFL standout Aaron Grymes, who shone during preseason before having his hopes of making the roster dashed by an injury. Grymes was waived with an injury settlement before being resigned by the team earlier this season. Marcus Johnson, Aziz Shittu, Don Cherry and David Watford were all listed on the Eagles offseason roster and took part during this year’s preseason campaign.
It may only be a small announcement, but continuity is rapidly becoming a huge focus in the City of Brotherly Love..and bringing back players who were on the fringe of making the final roster prior to the cuts, adds a level of competition and excitement to the team’s offseason preparations.
