Steelers Secure 17 Prospects With Futures Contracts

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced the signing of 17 players to NFL futures contracts on January 14, 2025. These signings may seem hard to place in context given how recently, and painfully the 2024 season concluded, but the futures contracts are an annual occurrence that signals the beginning of the run up to OTAs.

Via the Steelers' social media account on X, they've provided details below.

"It's the time of year when the Steelers roster starts to take on a new look, and that was the case today when multiple players were signed to Reserve/Future contracts. The team signed a combination of players who were with the team in 2024 on the practice squad, as well as some new additions." 

Let’s breakdown what these contracts are, and a few highlights about this year’s signees.

Futures contracts are used to help NFL teams build up their rosters from the in-season 53, up to the offseason 90-man roster. They guarantee a team the rights to a player to begin the new NFL year, and unlike practice squad players, futures signees cannot be signed by other teams, so these agreements ensure that a team has the right mix of players to begin offseason training and roster selection. Therefore, 17 hopefuls continued their NFL journeys this week by signing with the Black and Gold. These include the following:

Quarterback Skyler Thompson

Thompson should provide the Steelers with a steady, reliable presence in the quarterback room, regardless of who may be at the top of the depth chart. He was originally drafted out of Kansas State University by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Thompson has seen action in 10 games with the Dolphins over the last three years. He’s thrown for 721 yards and one touchdown, and also started one postseason game. In college, Thompson appeared in 45 games and completed 552 passes for 7,134 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Running Back Aaron Shampklin

Shampklin’s name may sound familiar to Steeler Nation since he cracked the 53-man roster in 2024, and appeared in three games during which he went for 6 carries and 17 yards. Shampklin’s journey has served on practice squads with the Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, and Dallas Cowboys. Interestingly, Shampklin is a Harvard graduate, who returned to his hometown of Long Beach, California, and worked as a substitute math teacher when it seemed like his football career was over.

Offensive Guard Doug Nester

Nester was on the Steelers’ practice squad throughout the 2024 season, after having originally signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL Draft. Nester played college football at West Virginia University where he was teammates with Steelers’ offensive center Zach Frazier.  During college, he once went 660 offensive snaps without allowing a sack.

Defensive Back Kyler McMichael

McMichael jumps off the page to Steeler Nation because his blend of size (6’0, 209 lbs.) and speed (4.34 40-yard dash) would enable him to play sticky man coverage and provide run support. He played his collegiate football at the University of North Carolina, and originally signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent the 2022 season on the Buffalo Bills practice squad, as well as an offseason stint with the Arizona Cardinals.

The 2025 futures contracts signees also include:  

• DB Joshuah Bledsoe
• OL Dylan Cook
• DT Domenique Davis
• LB Devin Harper
• RB Evan Hull
• DB D’Shawn Jamison
• WR Brandon Johnson
• OG Steven Jones
• LB Eku Leota
• WR Lance McCutcheon
• LB Thomas Rush
• DT Jacob Slade
• LB Julius Welschof

Steelers Are Hopeful For A Postseason Run In 2025 With Rejuvenated Roster

While the 2024 season has ended, Steeler Nation can plant new hopes for the 2025 campaign, and this week's signing of 17 futures contracts signals the beginning of a whole new journey. 

It's far to early to know how 2025 will come together, what players will return, and whose Steeler days have come to an end. Can the 2025 Steelers win the AFC North? How deep of a run can they put together? These questions will remain unanswered for now, but make no mistake, the process remains, and the season is renewed. Here we go! 

#SteelerNation