New Orleans Saints sign seven players to reserve/future contracts

The New Orleans Saints have signed at least seven players to reserve/future contracts since their 2015 season came to an early end.

Since Monday morning, the New Orleans Saints have signed at least seven players, all from their practice squad, to future/reserve contracts for the 2016 season, according to The Times-Picayune.

Wide receiver Reggie Bell, cornerback Brandon Dixon, safety Alden Darby, offensive tackle Bryan Witzmann, guard Cyril Lemon, tight end Chris Manhertz and defensive tackle Ashaad Mabry will all join the Black and Gold once the team begins training for next season and the roster expands to 90 players.

Bell signed to the New Orleans Saints practice squad back in October.  Initially signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Redskins, he played his collegiate career for the University of San Diego.

Dixon played his college ball as Northwest Missouri State before getting selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.  He was released in September before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2014 season.  After various practice squad stints, New Orleans signed him in November to their practice squad.  Brandon is the twin brother of Saints cornerback Brian Dixon.

More from Saints News

• Saints 2022 Training Camp: Top 4 takeaways from Day 8
• Saints need to extend C.J. Gardner-Johnson ASAP
• Chris Herndon signing is low-risk, high-reward for NOLA Saints
• Saints News: Tyrann Mathieu return and Chris Herndon signing
• Saints Training Camp: Throwing punches won’t help Trevor Penning win the LT job

Undrafted and signed by the San Diego Chargers in 2014, Darby played on their practice squad.  After a little summer stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New Orleans Saints signed him to their practice squad in September.

The Saints signed Witzmann the same day Darby was brought in.  Undrafted out of South Dakota State in 2014, he was initially picked up by the Houston Texans.

Lemon was an early invite to New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp as an undrafted free agent from North Texas but didn’t make the team.  A Big Easy native, he was forced to the Lone Star State thanks to the devastation by Hurricane Katrina.  He has been on the Saints practice squad/injured list for most of the 2015 season.

After making the Saints’ 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie in 2015, Mabry was waived and then signed to the practice squad.  He put up a good fight at training camp.  Maybe he’ll finally get over that hump next season.

Perhaps the most interesting player is Manhertz, who the Saints signed during the preseason.  Manhertz, a Canisius College product and former basketball player, stands 6-foot-6, weighing in at 255 pounds.  He continues to adjust to the sport of football, never playing the game and with his only experience coming from the Madden video game, according to The Buffalo News.  The Bronx (NY) native was initially signed to a free agent contract by the Buffalo Bills two days after the 2014 season.