Players signed by NFL teams to reserve/future contracts in the early days of the offseason almost invariably finished the regular season on the signing team’s practice squad.
For example, the New Orleans Saints announced Thursday that former South Alabama wide receiver Kawaan Baker has signed a reserve/future contract with the team.
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Baker originally joined the Saints as a seventh-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, played two games while spending his rookie season on the practice squad, and again finished the 2022 campaign on the squad. New Orleans practice after stops with the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.
But the Saints also announced Thursday that former Alabama tight end Miller Forristall has signed a reserve/future contract with the team.
Forristall entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Tennessee Titans in 2021, but had been on the Cleveland Browns practice squad for most of his NFL tenure.
Forristall played two games as a rookie and four in the 2022 campaign. In those games, Forristall was on the field for 27 offensive snaps and 61 special teams games for Cleveland.
A player signed to a reserve/future contract can be added to an NFL team’s roster when it grows from 53 to 90 players for the offseason on March 15, the first day of the 2023 business year. the NFL. Newly signed players become eligible to participate in off-season training, minicamps, and OTAs as members of the squad.
Only players who are not on active NFL rosters can sign reserve/future contracts.
Twenty Alabama high school and college players have signed reserve/future contracts since the end of the 2022 regular season. Other players include:
· Guard Deonte Brown (Austin, Alabama) signed with the Carolina Panthers.
· Running back Spencer Brown (Mortimer Jordan, UAB) has signed with the Carolina Panthers.
· Safety Shyheim Carter (Alabama) has signed with the Tennessee Titans.
· Goaltender Lester Cotton (Central-Tuscaloosa, Alabama) has signed with the Miami Dolphins.
· Offensive tackle Korey Cunningham (Montevallo) has signed with the New York Giants.
· Running back Derrick Gore (Alabama) has signed with the New Orleans Saints.
· Linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) has signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
· Tight end Gerrit Prince (UAB) has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
· Defensive lineman LaBryan Ray (James Clemens, Alabama) has signed with the New England Patriots.
· Offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons (Selma) has signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
· Safety Josh Thomas (Montgomery Academy) signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
· Safety Nolan Turner (Vestavia Hills) has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
· Center Darryl Williams (Bessemer City) has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
· Wide receiver Seth Williams (Paul Bryant, Auburn) has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Each of these players was part of the training squad of the team he signed with at the end of the 2022 season for this club.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.