The Washington Commanders had a big news day on Monday. Washington fired head coach Ron Rivera after four seasons with the team. Also, the Commanders hired a pair of notable sports executives, Bob Myers (former Golden State Warriors president & GM) and Rick Spielman (former GM of the Minnesota Vikings).
Shortly after announcing those moves, the Commanders were in the news all day, requesting permission to speak to numerous coaches and executives around the league for their vacant coach and GM positions, respectively.
But at the end of every season, all 32 NFL teams sign players, mostly practice squad players, to reserve/future contracts.
What is a futures contract? Here’s the answer, courtesy of Broncos Wire.
Players who were not on an active roster at the end of the season are eligible to sign reserve/future contracts (every player on the practice squad is eligible, for example). These players will officially join the 90-man offseason roster when the NFL’s new league year begins on March 13.
Surprisingly, the Commanders released a player that garnered more attention than the three players they signed. Washington released tight end Curtis Hodhes, who it signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Hodges spent his rookie season on injured reserve. He made Washington’s 2023 roster but never appeared in a game and was placed on IR again back on Dec. 15.
The Commander’s lack of tight end depth kept Hodges around as they believed in his potential as a pass-catching option, but it never materialized for different reasons.
- LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle
- WR Davion Davis
- CB D’Angelo Mandell
Washington will likely sign more players to these deals once it names a new general manager.