Steelers' Running Back Master Teague Highlights Players Signed To 2023 Futures Contracts

On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 season came to an end, but as Head Coach, Mike Tomlin likes to remind us, football is a year-round business. That means there was work to do on Tuesday for some of the practice squad players with future signings.

Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter @JSKO_Photo)

Futures signings are what are offered to players on the practice squad to retain them for the next season. That is because, unlike players who are elevated to the roster, practice squad players' contracts only last for the duration of the season. That means those 16 men were out of a job as of Sunday. However, every season each NFL team offers "futures contracts" which give them another shot and guarantees them a spot on the practice squad rolling into 2023. Today 10 of those players were chosen by the Steelers to receive those one-year deals.

Let's take a look at a few of the players the Steelers chose.

Steelers Running Back Master Teague

Master Teague played college football at Ohio State University. He battled for and won the backup job to J.K. Dobbins and saw some on-field action, even scoring a few touchdowns. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in May of 2022 but was released almost immediately.

In August of 2022, the Steelers signed Teague but he was placed on the injured reserve a few weeks later after an ankle injury, he was then waived a week after that. He was re-signed to the practice squad at the end of November and was released again a couple of weeks later in December.

Teague generated a lot of buzz during his time in training camp and developed a bit of a cult following. If he can show he is ready he might be an interesting addition to the "running back by committee" model that Tomlin is currently employing with both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren running the ball.

Steelers Wide Receiver Cody White

Another player that generated some excitement from fans is Wide Receiver, Cody White. White played college football at Michigan State and set a school record as a true freshman with 490 receiving yards on 35 catches and four touchdowns. He did not return for his senior year, choosing instead to enter the NFL draft. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent but was waived only a few months later.

White bounced around practice squads a bit, going from the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and ultimately the Steelers where he was signed in September of 2020. He stayed there for that entire season and was given a reserve/future contract when the season ended in 2021. He was waived in August of 2021 at the end of training camp and re-signed to the practice squad. White also spent the 2022 season on the practice squad.

Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter @JSKO_Photo)

Steelers Offensive Guard William Dunkle

William Dunkle played guard for San Diego State University and performed well despite being at a smaller school. In 2021, as a junior, he was listed by PFF as having the second-highest overall grade and the number-one run block grade in the U.S. He allowed only 10 quarterback pressures on 429 pass plays with zero sacks.

Despite getting some attention he was not selected in the draft but was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles but was released by them. The Steelers picked him up prior to the start of the 2022 season, waived him and signed him to the practice squad. Dunkle provides some much-needed competition in a much-needed area of weakness. He is young, at only 23, and has the opportunity to find himself on the team if he performs well.

Photo Credit: Steelers.com

While it might be disappointing that the season did not end with a playoff run, it is always exciting to start planning for the next season. What do you think of these futures signings? Do you think any of them have promise? Comment below!

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