For players who didn't finish the 2016 NFL season under contract with an NFL team, they can sign reserve-futures deals, including before the new league year begins, which is Friday, March 9, at 3:00 p.m. CT.

This was case the case a couple of years ago with running back Spencer Ware, who was out of football in 2014 and after signing a reserve-futures deal with the Chiefs, made the practice squad in 2015 and eventually got his opportunity to play with the season-ending injury to Jamaal Charles.

Ware took advantage of that opportunity and it all started with a reserve-future signing.

Here are the six guys the Chiefs signed to reserve-future deals this offseason:

Kansas City Chiefs 2017 Reserve-Future Signings

Name

POS

WT

AGE

EXP

College

Hometown

Battle, Isaiah

OL

290

24

2

Clemson

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greene, Khaseem

LB

241

28

3

Rutgers

Elizabeth, N.J.

Hughes, Montori

DL

350

26

4

UTM

Mufreesboro, Ten.

James, Josh

T

314

23

1

Carroll

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Ratelle, Will

FB

256

24

1

North Dakota

Edina, Minn.

Wilson, Julian

DB

200

25

1

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Okl.