Redskins Sign 9 Players To Futures Deals

The Washington Redskins announced that they’ve signed nine players to future/reserve contracts on Monday including:

1. DL A.J. Francis
2. WR Matt Hazel
3. LB Rufus Johnson
4. DL Joey Mbu
5. OL Ronald Patrick
6. DB Shak Randolph
7. TE Wes Saxton
8. WR Kendal Thompson
9. T Isaiah Williams

Future/reserve contracts are essentially an opportunity for players compete for a roster spot in offseason workouts and during training camp.

Johnson, 26, is a former sixth-round pick of the Saints back in 2013. He spent just over a year in New Orleans before he was waived at the start of the season.

The Patriots later signed him to future/reserve contracts in each of the next two seasons before releasing him coming out of the preseason before adding him to their practice squad for a few days. The Redskins just recently signed him to their taxi squad.

In 2015, Johnson appeared in one game for New England and recorded just one tackle.

Francis, 26, signed on with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland back in 2013. He was unable to make the 53-man roster during his rookie year and was waived at the start of the season.

After brief stints wit the Patriots, Dolphins and Seahawks, Francis signed on with the Buccaneers a few weeks after this year’s NFL Draft. However, he was among their final roster cuts coming out of the preseason.

Washington later signed Francis to their practice squad and promoted him to the 53-man roster in recent weeks. He was later signed to their practice squad a few weeks ago.

In 2015, Francis appeared in three games and recorded two total tackles while playing for the Dolphins and Seahawks.