The Pittsburgh Steelers have already begun their offseason, officially announcing that the team had signed 17 players to Reserve/Future contracts on Tuesday.
Two moves had already been announced, including the signings of LB Julius Welschof and Doug Nester, on Monday evening — now officially official.
Now, here’s a look at the rest of the players announced as signed to Reserve/Future contracts by the Steelers as of Tuesday afternoon:
NFL: Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers
Aug 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Julius Welschof (48) sacks Buffalo Bills quarterback Ben DiNucci (15) during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Buffalo won 9-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
Jan 5, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) warms up before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Syndication: Arizona Republic
Arizona Cardinals defensive end Jacob Slade (60) during organized team activities at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center.
NFL: Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers
Aug 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Bills safety Kendall Williamson (36) and linebacker Deion Jones (45) tackle Pittsburgh Steelers running back Aaron Shampklin (33) during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: The Tennessean
Tennessee Titans linebacker Thomas Rush (48) and tight end Thomas Odukoya (89) talk after practice during training camp at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Aug. 21 2024.
NCAA Football: Cincinnati at West Virginia
Nov 18, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers offensive lineman Doug Nester (72) celebrates with fans after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots
Aug 8, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Carolina Panthers cornerback D’Shawn Jamison (29) returns the ball against the New England Patriots during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos
Aug 25, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Johnson (89) scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: Florida Times-Union
Jacksonville Jaguars guard Steven Jones (64) runs onto the field before a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-7. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
NFL: Los Angeles Chargers at Carolina Panthers
Sep 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker Eku Leota (46) before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
NFL: New York Giants at New York Jets
Aug 24, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Lance McCutcheon (85) after the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: Arizona Republic
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Kyler McMichael (48) during minicamp at the Cardinals Dignity Health Training Center in Tempe on June 14, 2023.
NFL: Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts
Aug 17, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Evan Hull (26) runs the ball past Arizona Cardinals linebacker Owen Pappoe (44) during the first quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: The Enquirer
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Devin Harper (56) runs during Cincinnati Bengals training camp in Cincinnati on Friday, July 26, 2024.
Syndication: The Enquirer
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Domenique Davis (72) looks on during Cincinnati Bengals training camp in Cincinnati on Friday, July 26, 2024.
NFL: New England Patriots Minicamp
Jun 16, 2021; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots safety Joshua Bledsoe (60) reacts during the New England Patriots mini camp at the New England Patriots practice complex. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
What are NFL Reserve/Future contracts?
Former BTSC contributor Dave Schofield explained how futures contracts in a series from the 2023 offseason:
At the conclusion of the regular season, players on the team’s 53-man roster remain there until the start of the next league year. There are times where players are released, often for salary cap purposes, ahead of the new league year and they become street free agents.
Whether a player is on the practice squad of a team whose season is over or simply a free agent, they are free to sign with any NFL team for the following year. But since rosters are locked when a team season is over, these players signed a type of contract, a Reserve/Future contract, where they do not count on the teams salary cap or roster count until the beginning of the league year. Once a player signs one of these contracts, the are on the NFL’s Reserve/Future List and they are not free to negotiate with other teams as they are under contract even though the league year has not kicked in. Teams can sign as many players to futures contracts as they choose as long as it does not put them over the 90-man limit that takes effect the first day of the new league year.