Lions sign 10 players to futures contracts

Now that the Detroit Lions’ season is over, they can start to build their roster for the 2018 season. While normal contracts don’t expire until the end of the league year, practice squad contracts expire at the completion of the regular season.

So the Lions announced on Monday that they have signed 10 different players to futures contract in preparation for building their 90-man roster next season. Here are the 10 players:

• CB Adairius Barnes
• TE Brandon Barnes
• DE Alex Barrett
• WR Dontez Ford
• DT Toby Johnson
• C Leo Koloamatangi
• S Rolan Milligan
• T Dan Skipper
• QB Alek Torgersen
• DE Jeremiah Valoaga

If those names look familiar, they should. Nine of those 10 players finished the season on Detroit’s practice squad. The only practice squader not given a futures contract was linebacker Thurston Armbrister. Instead, the Lions signed Ford, who finished the season on the Lions’ practice squad injured list.

These players are likely to be camp bodies during organized team activities in the offseason, but a few have had some playing time experience with the Lions, including defensive end Jeremiah Valoaga and cornerback Adairius Barnes.