Chargers: Catching up on team’s futures contracts
By Travis Wakeman
At the end of each NFL season, every team looks to add to its roster for the following season by signing players to futures contracts.
While four teams are still fighting for a chance to raise the Lombardi Trophy, 28 other squads are looking to get any kind of jump on the 2020 season as possible and that includes scouring the list of available free agents.
Many teams will carry over the players that were on their practice squad at season’s end by signing them to a futures contract. Rosters balloon back up to 90 players during the offseason so there is no limit to how many players can be signed to a futures contract.
Following the season, the Chargers chose to sign these eight players:
Cole Toner, OL: Toner has been in the Chargers’ organization for the past three seasons and has appeared in several preseason games while also spending time on the team’s practice squad. He has played in three regular-season games across his career, which includes time as a member of the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots.
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Tyree St. Louis, OL: St. Louis spent time in 2019 with the Chargers on the team’s practice squad. The team saw enough in him to bring him back as part of next season’s 90-man roster.
Quenton Meeks, CB: Meeks spent the first season of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and even made one start for the team in 2018, registering eight tackles and two pass deflections in that game. After the Jags waived him in 2019, the Chargers picked him up on waivers and will look to help continue his development.
Tyron Johnson, WR: After leaving college for the pros following his junior season at Oklahoma State, Johnson went undrafted this past spring and is already on his fourth NFL squad, which includes two stints with the Houston Texans. The Chargers signed him to the practice squad in December.
P.J. Johnson, DT: Johnson was a seventh-round selection of the Detroit Lions in this past year’s draft, but did not make the 53-man roster. The Chargers signed him in early December to the practice squad.
Malik Jefferson, LB: Players signed to futures contracts are not usually players with much of a known background or decorated playing career. That is not the case with Jefferson. In 2018, he was selected in the third round by the Bengals but injuries limited him in his rookie season and he was waived as part of final roster cuts this past season. The Browns then signed him and released him two months later. The Chargers are the latest team to try and make a reclamation project out of this guy.
Tevaughn Campbell, CB: The former CFL defensive back was part of the Chargers’ system this past season and even saw some time on the active roster. The team sees something in him and he could be a player to keep an eye on this summer.
Stephen Anderson, TE: Looking for depth at tight end, Anderson was signed this season and placed on the team’s practice squad. He spent some time on the team’s active roster as well and will get a chance to come in and add to the depth at tight end next season. Anderson has 36 career receptions.