The Kansas City Chiefs are focused on the task at hand with the postseason creeping closer and the Pittsburgh Steelers ready for a visit. However, the front office is already starting to put together the first signings on the 2022 roster with a trio of new faces who have all reached agreement with the Chiefs on reserve/futures contracts.
Futures contracts are a way for a team to add players for the upcoming offseason, knowing that an offseason roster limit expands from an in-season total of 53 (with some allowances for an increase of a player or two on game days) to a full 90-man roster beginning at the start of a new league year through the training camp deadlines in August when rosters are pared down once again for the upcoming season.
Each year, a team is allowed to sign a player in the winter who is not affiliated with any team already and not have them count toward the roster limits until the next offseason. It’s a great way for younger players to sign on with a team for a longer look, and most players have had experience with one or multiple franchises in the NFL before the team they sign with on a futures deal.
In previous seasons, we’ve seen offensive lineman Andrew Wylie come to the team via a futures deal. In addition, offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho, who is being held on the active roster each week as a healthy scratch, also joined the team last winter as a futures signing. However, as you might expect, most names are here and then forgotten. That’s the nature of being a long shot prospect.
Here’s an in-depth look at each of the first three players signed by the Chiefs as 2022 futures deals.