The New England Patriots have signed defensive lineman Bill Murray to a future contract, the team announced Monday.
Murray, 24, joined the team as a rookie free agent out of William & Mary prior to the 2020 season, spending the past two seasons on the practice squad after the 6-foot-4 lineman — both years — was cut in training camp.
Here are nine others who New England has signed to a futures pact.
Drew Desjarlais: New England signed Desjarlais, 24, on the 28th of January after two very successful seasons in the Canadian Football League. The offensive lineman was a fourth overall pick in 2019 and was an All-Star selection in the 2021 season — he was a vital piece in helping the Blue Bombers win the Grey Cup.
Daniel Ekuale: Ekuale, 28, was signed by the club on the 25th of January. The 6-foot-3 defensive lineman was signed mid-season to the practice squad and made a major impact — being elevated for seven games while grabbing a pair of sacks. Ekuale has a real possibility of making the 53-man roster for the Patriots this season.
Arlington Hambright: Hambright, yet another lineman, was a seventh-round pick by the Bears in 2020 and appeared in nine games — making one start — during the season. But, the 26-year-old left guard was released prior to this season and spent the year on Chicago’s practice squad.
Malcolm Perry: Perry, 24, was claimed on waivers by New England after the Dolphins released the wideout, but was placed on injured reserve before Week 1 against Miami and was released on November 17. Perry then spent the rest of the season on the Saints practice squad.
Quinn Nordin: Nordin, the 23-year-old undrafted kicker out of Michigan, spent his season on the practice squad after being signed by the team in the spring of 2021. It seemed like the rookie had a shot at being the team’s starting kicker this season, but Nordin faltered late into training camp and ultimately lost the kicking battle to 37-year-old Nick Folk, who was nearly perfect this season.
Tre Nixon: Nixon, a 24-year-old wide receiver, spent the entire season on New England’s practice squad. The 2021 seventh-round pick out of UCF was now retired research director Ernie Adams’ last pick for the Patriots.
Kristian Wilkerson: Entering his third season with the Patriots, the 25-year-old wide receiver appeared in four games last year despite being a member of the practice squad — that was after an impressive preseason.
Will Sherman: Sherman, a ’21 sixth-round pick out of Colorado by New England, spent the year on the practice squad. The 22-year-old was elevated for Week 5 vs. the Texans, where he took a half dozen special teams snaps.
Devine Ozigbo: Ozigbo, 25, joined New England mid-November and was elevated, though did not see the field in Week 15. The running back spent his third NFL season with the Patriots, New Orleans, and the Jaguars.
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