Detroit Lions Sign 11 Players to Reserve/Futures Contracts

Jermar Jefferson, Tom Kennedy among players signed.

The Detroit Lions signed 11 players to reserve/futures contracts, the team announced Tuesday. Among the players signed were wide receivers Tom Kennedy and Maurice Alexander, along with running back Jermar Jefferson. 

All of the players signed Tuesday to deals had spent previous time on the team's practice squad this season. 

A reserve/futures deal goes into effect on the first day of the new league year, which is when teams can expand their rosters to 90 players ahead of training camp. 

The Lions are coming off a 2023 season in which they made the NFC Championship Game before ultimately losing to the San Francisco 49ers. 

Ahead of the new campaign, Dan Campbell admitted that the team is always searching to improve its level of competition, as it looks to continue competing for a Lombardi Trophy. 

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“I think it’s everything. I think it’s players and coaches. I think it’s – you’ve got to continue to get better, create more competition on the roster and then in the coaches, too," said Campbell. "It’s got to be – you’ve got to make sure that you have the right staff and that they all work well together. 

"And that’s it’s a high-level staff with high-level players. That’s important and you learn a lot about players when you’re 0-10, which I talked about, you also learn a lot when you’re in an NFC Championship Game and everything’s – the stakes are a lot higher, and you get in those types of games and we all learn.”

Here is the full list of 11 players signed to reserve/futures contracts: 

• LB Mitchell Agude
• WR Maurice Alexander
• OL Matt Farniok
• RB Jake Funk
• OT Connor Galvin
• CB Craig James
• RB Jermar Jefferson
• S Brandon Joseph
• WR Tom Kennedy
• OL Michael Niese
• DL Chris Smith

Notes

The NFL released the final Pro Bowl rosters. Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin was not on the list. There was no reason given for his absence, and he was replaced by former Lions fullback/linebacker Nick Bellore. 

Additionally, quarterback Jared Goff passed on the opportunity to participate.