The Kansas City Chiefs had plenty of success with one defender with a last name of Lanier, so why not try another? On Wednesday, news leaked that the Chiefs had signed defensive end Anthony Lanier to a reserve/futures deal, the first such signing by general manager Brett Veach for the 2020 offseason.
A reserve/futures contract is simply a way for a team to reach a deal with a younger player who they believe could be a contributor for the following season. Any team is allowed to sign a free agent (or someone on a practice squad) to such a deal immediately after the regular season is over.