Falcons Sign Three to Futures Contracts

Rotoworld is reporting that three players who spent at least a portion of 2013 on the Falcons practice squad have been signed to futures contracts.

Wide receiver Dominique Croom spent part of last season on Atlanta's practice squad. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as a college free agent following the 2013 NFL Draft. Croom played at the University of Central Arkansas, racking up 711 yards and eight touchdowns on 53 receptions. Croom is 6'2" and 190 pounds.

Cornerback Jordan Mabin, entering his third year in the league, was also signed to a futures contract for the coming season with Atlanta. Mabin was signed as a college free agent out of Northwestern by the Ravens following the 2012 NFL Draft, and spent time on Baltimore's practice squad until the last week of the 2012 season, when he signed with the Browns. Mabin spent last season on Atlanta's practice squad.

Tight end Mickey Shuler, who has four years of experience in the NFL, was the third player signed to a futures contract by the Falcons. Shuler is 6'4" and weighs 247 pounds, so he has good size. Shuler, who played at Penn State, was drafted in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He spent some time on Miami's active roster, posting two catches for 44 yards. He has also spent time on Oakland's practice squad.

A futures contract is essentially a way for NFL teams to lock up players they think have potential prior to the start of the new league year. Only players who have not been on any team's active roster at the end of the previous season are eligible to be targeted with a futures contract by any team. Signing players to a futures contract is a good indication that the team thinks they have potential, because it prevents them from signing elsewhere. We'll keep an eye on these players through minicamps and training camp.