Packers sign 13 players to futures deals: What to Know

The Green Bay Packers 2022 season has only come to an end a few days ago, but the construction of the 2023 90-man roster has already begun, with the team singing 13 players to futures deals.

A futures contract doesn’t become official until the new league year begins, which will start in mid-March when free agency begins. Singing players to these contracts in January is common practice around the NFL, and it allows each team to start building out their 90-man rosters.

Of the 13 signees, 10 will be familiar, having spent time on the Green Bay practice squad in various capacities during the 2022 season. This list of players includes TE Austin Allen, WR Jeff Cotton, QB Danny Etling, OT Jean Delance, RB Tyler Goodson, CB Benjie Franklin, TE Nick Guggemos, Edge La’Darius Hamilton, IDL Chris Slayton, and CB Kiondre Thomas. The new additions, meanwhile, are K Parker White, S James Wiggins, and CB Tyrell Ford.

Here is a closer look at each of the 13 individual signings made by the Packers on Tuesday.

Austin Allen, TE: Allen was a 2022 undrafted rookie from Nebraska. For the Cornhuskers, he caught 73% of the 89 targets that came his way at 15 yards per catch, per PFF. He spent some time in the slot, but over half of his snaps came as a run blocker, where he graded out fairly well.

Jeff Cotton, WR: A 2022 UDFA from Idaho, Cotton has 14 career NFL snaps, all of which came on special teams. In his final college season, Cotton caught 88 of his 133 passes at 12.9 yards per catch with seven touchdowns. He has experience both outside and on the boundary.

Danny Etling, QB: Etling was a 2018 seventh-round pick by New England out of LSU and has bounced around. He has no NFL snaps, but during the preseason with Green Bay, he completed 22 of 27 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown. He’s also an excellent athlete.

Jean Delance, OT: Signed in December, Delance went undrafted this past spring after playing his college ball at Florida. He was an experienced player with nearly 2,200 career snaps. In his final year, he allowed just three sacks and 20 pressures.

Tyler Goodson, RB: With the third running back spot up for grabs over the summer, many thought that Goodson — a 2022 UDFA from Iowa — may have won the job. He showed terrific burst with the ball in his hands and was used on kick returns during the preseason as well.

Benjie Franklin, CB: Another 2022 UDFA, but from the Tarleton State. Franklin spent a majority of his college career on the boundary and allowed just 52 receptions on 101 targets at 12.3 yards per catch while coming away with four interceptions and 10 pass breakups.

Nick Guggemos, TE: Guggemos last played in college all the way back in 2018 for, at the time, Division III St. Thomas. However, he has excellent size and athleticism, standing 6’5″ while weighing 245 pounds. He also posted a 4.49-second 40-yard dash time.

La’Darius Hamilton, Edge: Hamilton has spent most of his time over the last two seasons on the Packers practice squad, but he does have some regular season snaps during times when Green Bay found themselves thin at edge rusher. This season, he appeared in three games and logged one pressure in 10 pass rush snaps.

Chris Slayton, IDL: Like Goodson at running back, Slayton really stood out during the preseason, particularly as a pass rusher. In three preseason games, Slayton recorded five pressures. He has had no regular-season snaps during his career.

Kiondre Thomas, CB: Thomas was excellent during the preseason, allowing just one reception on seven targets for eight yards. Green Bay used him almost strictly on the boundary. In addition to his defensive contributions, Thomas stood out on special teams as well.

Parker White, K (new signee): White went undrafted out of South Carolina in 2022 after hitting 72 of his 99 career field goal attempts, which included going 24-for-45 from 40-plus yards. He also made 152 of his 154 extra-point attempts.

James Wiggins, S (new signee): A 2021 seventh-round pick by Arizona, Wiggins appeared in three games as a rookie, playing 35 special teams snaps, primarily on the kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units. In college with Cincinnati, Wiggins was lined up all over the field, spending relatively equal time in the box, as the free safety, and in the slot.

Tyrell Ford, CB (new signee): Ford was a 2022 draft pick by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL after playing his college football in Canada. During his rookie season, Ford appeared in 18 games, logging three defensive tackles and 10 on special teams, according to the Packers team site.

While 10 former practice squad players were signed, there were seven that weren’t–although that doesn’t mean the Packers won’t sign them at some point during this offseason. This list includes K Ramiz Ahmed, K Matt Ammendola, WR Travis Fulgham, OL Michal Menet, LB DQ Thomas, EDGE Tim Ward, and WR Juwann Winfree.