Oakland Raiders sign trio of reserves/futures Monday

Dec 8, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie and owner Mark Davis on the field before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie was busy at work to start the week, starting his offseason wheeling and dealing when McKenzie announced the signing of three more players to reserve/future contracts on Monday.

The team announced that they have signed linebacker Frank Beltre, center Jarrod Shaw, and cornerback Neiko Thorpe to reserve/future contracts.

The addition of the newest three makes that 13 new players signed to reserve/future contracts by the Raiders since the season ended in an attempt to comply with the leagues roster/salary cap requirements as they prepare to have a long list of unrestricted free agents come off the books once the offseason officially begins.

Frank Beltre played defensive end while at FBS Towson University but has since moved to linebacker while Shaw has spent time with the Cleveland Browns after playing both guard positions, and left tackle, while at the University of Tennessee as a versatile linemen.

Neiko Thorpe originally signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2012 out of the University of Auburn. After being released on August 25, 2013, Thorpe signed an agreement with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League where he earned playoff time with the defending Grey Cup Champs.

Thorpe also suffered a freak injury while with the Argos, having to be carted off the field in a game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Thorpe is perhaps the most interesting of the pick ups as he has earned the most relevant game time of the trio spending time with a squad that was one game away from the Grey Cup this season. Thorpe had just six tackles, but worked his way into the roster and suffered his injury during his first start with the Argos.

Expect more reserves/futures to be signed in the coming weeks as the Raiders look to fill their roster in preparation for the unrestricted free agents coming off the books.