According to the NFL, the Miami Dolphins signed former Auburn wide receiver Anthony Schwartz to a reserve/future contract on Monday.
A player signed to a reserve/future contract can be added to an NFL team’s roster when it expands from 53 to 90 players for the offseason on March 13, the opening day of the NFL’s fiscal year 2023. The recently signed players are now eligible to participate in offseason workouts, minicamps, and OTAs as team members.
Reserve/future contracts can only be signed by players who are not on the NFL active roster.
The Dolphins signed eight practice squad players to reserve/future contracts on Monday.
Schwartz joined Miami’s practice squad on November 13, but did not appear in a regular-season game in 2023.
Schwartz had not played in the NFL since the Cleveland Browns released him on injured reserve on September 19. Schwartz was cut when the Browns reduced their preseason roster to 53 players for the regular season in August. However, due to a hamstring ailment, he carried an injury designation and was assigned to Cleveland’s injured reserve when he went unclaimed on waivers.
The Browns selected Schwartz in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Schwartz began his NFL career with three receptions for 69 yards in Cleveland’s 33-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on September 12, 2021, but he never matched either of those numbers in his next 24 games with the Browns.
Schwartz had 14 receptions for 186 yards and one score, 10 running attempts for 96 yards and one touchdown, and 15 kickoff returns for an average of 21.5 yards in Cleveland.
Since the end of the 2023 NFL regular season, Schwartz has become the 15th player from an Alabama high school or college to sign a reserve/future contract. Others include:
· Offensive lineman Chandler Brewer (Florence) signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
· Running back Spencer Brown (Mortimer Jordan, UAB) signed with the Carolina Panthers.
· Safety Shyheim Carter (Alabama) signed with the Tennessee Titans.
· Defensive end DJ Coleman (Jacksonville State) signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
· Offensive lineman D.J. Fluker (Foley, Alabama) signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
· Cornerback Allan George (Andalusia) signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
· Cornerback Tae Hayes (Decatur) signed with the New York Jets.
· Wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (Hoover, Auburn) signd with the Cincinnati Bengals.
· Tight end Jordan Matthews (Madison Academy) signed with the Carolina Panthers.
· Tight end John Samuel Shenker (Auburn) signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
· Offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons (Selma) signed with the Tennessee Titans.
· Wide receiver Cam Sims (Alabama) signed with the Carolina Panthers.
· Outside linebacker Jordan Smith (UAB) signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
· Center Darryl Williams (Bessemer City) signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
