The official free agency period doesn't begin until the onset of the new league year on March 13, but the Kansas City Chiefs have still been busy adding to their roster.

Kansas City has already signed 18 players to "Reserve/Future" contracts, which are specialized deals meant for players who were not on an active roster when the previous season came to an end. That pool of eligible players includes those who were on practice squads – including Kansas City's practice squad – at the conclusion on the 2023 campaign, which is why many of the Chiefs' "Reserve/Future" signees may look familiar.

These deals will officially begin when the new league year kicks off on March 13, but in the meantime, no other team may sign these particular players.

Here's a look at the 18 players currently under contract with "Reserve/Future" deals as of February 22, plus three standard contracts that recently became official:

Signings on January 10:

Quarterback Ian Book

A fourth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in the 2021 NFL Draft, Book started one game for New Orleans (marking his only career appearance) during his rookie year. He completed 12-of-20 passes for 135 yards and two interceptions in the contest.

Book was waived following training camp ahead of the 2022 season but was immediately claimed by Philadelphia, where he spent the entirety of the campaign in a reserve role and did not play. He then spent time on the Patriots' practice squad this past season, but did not appear in a game.

Prior to heading to the NFL, Book was an accomplished quarterback at Notre Dame. Here's a portion of Book's draft profile from The Athletic's Dane Brugler back in 2021:

"A two-time team captain, he posted a 30-5 career record (15-0 at home) and leaves South Bend No. 2 (behind Brady Quinn) in almost every passing category, including yards (8,948) and touchdowns (72). Although undersized, Book is a gutsy dual-threat passer with quick feet and natural throwing skills on the move…He projects as an NFL reserve capable of locking down a backup job."

Wide Receiver Jacob Copeland

Copeland joins the Chiefs after spending time with the Titans, Vikings and Steelers last season. The 5-foot-11, 201-pound Copeland was projected as a seventh-round pick by the Athletic's Dane Brugler last year, but he ultimately went undrafted. He initially signed with Tennessee, but was waived in early August. Copeland then signed with Minnesota for the remainder of training camp, and while he was released by the Vikings during final roster cuts, Copeland went on to spend time on the Steelers' practice squad during the season.

Prior to the draft, Copeland spent the first four years of his collegiate career at the University of Florida before transferring to Maryland in 2022. Overall, he caught 112 passes for 1,742 yards and 11 touchdowns in 52 games (23 starts) as a college football player.

It's also worth mentioning that Copeland – a former high school track star – demonstrated impressive speed at the NFL Scouting Combine last year, recording a 4.42 second 40-yard dash, which ranked ninth among all wide receivers.

Running Back Hassan Hall

The 23-year-old Hall is seeking a fresh opportunity with Kansas City after spending time with the Browns, Cardinals and Giants' practice squads last season.

The 5-foot-10, 196-pound tailback initially signed with Cleveland after going undrafted last spring, and while he didn't earn a spot on the Browns during final roster cuts in August, he stuck around on Cleveland's practice squad for the first several weeks of the regular season. He later spent time on both the Cardinals and Giants' practice squads during the year, but did not appear in a game.

The Louisville (2018-21) and Georgia Tech (2022) product rushed for 1,820 yards and 12 touchdowns while catching 50 passes for 340 yards across 54 games (13 starts) during his collegiate career. He was an effective kick returner, too, tallying 2,581 yards and two touchdowns on 110 career returns (averaging 23.5 yards-per-kick).

Defensive End Jordan Smith

A fourth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2021 NFL Draft, Smith went on to appear in two games during his rookie campaign. An offseason knee injury then sidelined Smith for much of the Jaguars' summer training program in 2022, and he was ultimately waived during final roster cuts that year.

Prior to joining the Jaguars, Smith spent time at the University of Florida (2016-17), nearby Butler Community College (2018) and UAB (2019-20). He was tremendous during his final two years in college, recording 96 tackles, 27 tackles-for-loss, 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three passes defensed and an interception in 23 games (22 starts) for the Blazers, leading the team in both tackles-for-loss and sacks each year.

Here's a portion of what The Athletic's Dane Brugler wrote about Smith during the pre-draft process back in 2021:

"Overall, Smith must continue to develop his strength and hand technique to expand his role, but he is a toolsy pass rusher with an exciting combination of length and athleticism. He projects as a down-the-road starter who is just scratching the surface."

Signings on January 17:

Cornerback Kelvin Joseph

The Dallas Cowboys selected Joseph in the second round (No. 44 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft, making him the eighth defensive back selected that year. He went on to appear in 26 games (3 starts) for Dallas over the next two years, recording four passes defensed and a forced fumble in that time. He was particularly effective during his rookie season in 2021, yielding only seven catches (on 15 targets) for 49 yards across 97 coverage snaps.

Dallas traded Joseph to Miami ahead of the 2023 campaign, however, where he appeared in four games before being waived. Joseph signed with the Seahawks' practice squad soon after, eventually appearing in one game for Seattle.

Prior to going pro, Joseph led the University of Kentucky in passes defensed (5) and interceptions (4) in 2020. It was an impressive showing for Joseph, who appeared in 11 games (with zero starts) for LSU in 2018 before sitting out the 2019 campaign due to transfer rules. Here's a portion of Joseph's draft profile from The Athletic's Dane Brugler:

"A big-time athlete, Joseph has the rare ability to shadow routes without losing balance, displaying twitchy feet, fluid movements and high-end ball skills to consistently make plays…[He has] first-round physical talent and the athleticism to blanket any type of receiver, which is why a team will likely roll the dice on him in the top-50 picks."

It ultimately didn't work out for Joseph in Dallas, but he'll now have another chance to show what he can do in Kansas City.

Wide Receiver Shi Smith

A sixth-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2021 NFL Draft, Smith went on to catch 28 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns over the next two seasons. He was also the Panthers' primary punt returner in 2022, averaging 6.2 yards-per-return on 23 punts.

Carolina waived the 5-foot-9, 186-pound Smith ahead of last season, and while he didn't appear in a game last year, he spent a portion of the campaign with the Titans' practice squad.

Here's more on Smith from The Athletic's Dane Brugler, who wrote the following in his pre-draft guide back in 2021:

"Overall, Smith needs to be more consistent as a finisher and rhythmic with his patterns, but he has outstanding play speed and competitive toughness with the "my ball" attitude required for slot work. He projects as an immediate NFL contributor on offense and special teams."

Signing on January 23:

Wide Receiver Anthony Miller

The Chicago Bears selected Miller in the second round (No. 51 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft, making him the sixth wide receiver selected that year. He was a productive player, too, catching 134 passes for 1,564 yards and 11 touchdowns over the next three seasons.

Chicago traded Miller to Houston ahead of the 2021 season, where he appeared in two games before being waived. Miller signed with Pittsburgh's practice squad later that year and remained there through the following offseason, but a shoulder injury that summer ended his 2022 season before it truly began.

Miller then recorded a brief stint with San Francisco last summer before signing with Indianapolis' practice squad later in the year. He has yet to appear in a game, however, since 2021.

Signings on February 14:

Defensive Tackle Isaiah Buggs

A five-year veteran, Buggs most recently appeared in 27 games (16 starts) for the Detroit Lions over the last two seasons. He started 13 games for Detroit in 2022, logging a career-most 752 defensive snaps, before recording 255 defensive snaps last season.

Prior to signing with Detroit, Buggs spent three seasons in Pittsburgh – appearing in 29 games – from 2019-21.

Buggs has almost exclusively played as an interior defensive lineman during his career.

Defensive Tackle Matt Dickerson

Dickerson appeared in 13 games (including the playoffs) for Kansas City last season, recording 190 total defensive snaps in that time. He was almost exclusively an interior defensive lineman for the Chiefs, tallying snaps at left defensive tackle (95), right defensive tackle (71) and nose tackle (38 snaps).

The 28-year-old Dickerson originally joined the Chiefs last May before signing with the practice squad prior to the campaign.

Running Back Deneric Prince

Prince spent all of last season with the Chiefs, spending time on both the practice squad and the active roster. He ultimately appeared in two games, logging 15 snaps (all on special teams) between Week 14 and Week 15.

The No. 18 ranked running back in the 2023 draft class according to The Athletic's Dane Brugler, Prince was a projected fifth or sixth-round pick after a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine last year. In fact, Prince logged a 4.41-second 40-yard dash (fourth among all running backs) and a 10-foot-five-inch broad jump (fifth among all running backs).

Running Back Keaontay Ingram

A sixth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2022, the six-foot-tall, 215-pound Ingram appeared in 20 games (1 start) for the Cardinals over the last two seasons, rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown. His top statistical performance came in his lone career start, when he rushed for 40 yards on 10 carries against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6 of last season. The Cardinals released Ingram on November 28.

Ingram signed with the Chiefs' practice squad only a few days after he was released, and while he was active for Kansas City's Week 17 matchup against Cincinnati, he did not log an appearance.

Prior to being drafted, Ingram led USC in rushing with 911 yards (averaging 5.8 yards-per-carry) during his senior campaign. He was a three-year contributor at the University of Texas before transferring to USC ahead of the 2021 season.

Safety Trey Dean

Dean, a regular starter for the Florida Gators from 2018 through 2022, was a projected sixth or seventh-round selection in last year's draft according to The Athletic's Dane Brugler. He started 40 games for the Gators in that time, racking up 259 tackles, 24 passes defensed, 13.5 tackles-for-loss, five sacks and four interceptions. A versatile player during his collegiate career, Dean logged snaps at both cornerback and as a do-it-all safety while in Gainesville.

He recorded an impressive performance in the 3-cone drill (6.69 seconds, a number that would have ranked third among all players at the Combine) during his Pro Day and led all safeties with 25 reps on the bench press during the NFL Scouting Combine last year, but he ultimately went undrafted. Dean signed with the New York Jets following the draft, however, and spent time on their practice squad during the 2023 season.

Defensive End Truman Jones

Jones is back with the Chiefs after spending the entirety of last season on the practice squad.

A Second-Team All-American at Harvard in 2022, Jones led the Ivy League with 13 tackles-for-loss to go along with six sacks. He was also a menace on special teams, blocking three kicks. Here's more on Jones from The Athletic's Dane Brugler, who wrote the following in his 2023 NFL Draft guide.

"Overall, Jones needs to expand his hand usage and learn how to string moves together for the next level, but his athletic tools and energy are a nice start for a developmental guy."

Jones wasn't selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, but his intriguing skillset led to a free agent contact with the Chiefs soon after the event concluded. He proceeded to spend the entire season on the Chiefs' practice squad, and now with a year in Kansas City's system under his belt, he'll have an opportunity to earn a spot on the active roster this summer.

Cornerback Keith Taylor

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Taylor is back with Kansas City after spending the entirety of last season on the Chiefs' practice squad. A former fifth-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2021, Taylor appeared in 34 games (5 starts) for Carolina between the 2021 and 2022 campaigns. He tallied six passes defensed and a forced fumble in that time, serving primarily as an outside cornerback.

He was also an active member on special teams for the Panthers, logging 391 total special teams' snaps during his time in Carolina.

A University of Washington product, Taylor was projected by The Athletic's Dane Brugler as a "high intangible press-man prospect" during the pre-draft process in 2021.

Wide Receiver Montrell Washington

Washington returns to Kansas City after appearing in six games for the Chiefs last season, serving primarily as a return man. Washington returned eight punts and one kick for the Chiefs between Week 3 and Week 6, averaging 7.6 yards-per-return as a punt returner.

Prior to joining the Chiefs, Washington – a fifth-round pick by the Broncos in 2022 – appeared in 15 games (1 start) for Denver that year.

Signings on February 15:

Tight End Izaiah Gathings

Gathings remains with Kansas City after spending the last few months of last season on the practice squad.

Gathings – who played his college ball at Middle Tennessee State – initially joined Kansas City last July after spending the first few months of the 2023 offseason with the New York Jets. The 6-foot-4, 222-pound Gathings, who caught 60 passes for 559 yards and two touchdowns at Middle Tennessee State in 2022, originally signed with the Jets following a successful tryout at their rookie minicamp.

He was waived by the Chiefs after training camp concluded, but later joined the practice squad in December.

Offensive Tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick

Godrick is back with the Chiefs after spending all of last season on Kansas City's practice squad. A native of Nigeria, Godrick joined the Chiefs last offseason through the NFL International Player Pathway Program. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound lineman is a former basketball player who impressed at the inaugural NFL Africa camp in Ghana before earning an invitation to the International Combine in London last year.

Since 2017, the NFL IPP has sought to provide elite athletes from around the world with an opportunity to earn a spot on an NFL roster and increase the number of international players in the league.

Quarterback Chris Oladokun

Oladokun returns to Kansas City for a third year after spending each of the last two seasons on the Chiefs' practice squad. He has yet to appear in a game, but it's worth mentioning that Oladokun has often been credited for his work as the scout team quarterback during the Chiefs' weekly preparation for various opponents.

Prior to his career in the NFL, Oladokun spent time at the University of South Florida (2016-18), Samford University (2019-20) and South Dakota State (2021). His final season was perhaps his best, as Oladokun threw for 3,164 yards and 25 touchdowns in 15 games for the Jackrabbits. He also demonstrated an ability to be an effective dual-threat quarterback during his collegiate career, notably racking up nearly 500 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns for Samford in 2019.

Signing on February 20:

Wide Receiver Cornell Powell (standard contract)

While not a Reserve/Future deal and rather a standard contract, Powell is back with the Chiefs after spending all of last season on the practice squad. The former fifth-round pick has spent each of the last three campaigns with Kansas City, appearing in three games (all in 2022). He has otherwise been a steady member of the practice squad in that time.

Signings on February 22:

Punter Matt Araiza (standard contract)

Araiza signs with Kansas City in pursuit of his first regular-season action as a professional. The former San Diego State standout was ranked as the No. 1 punter in the 2022 NFL Draft class according to the Athletic's Dane Brugler.

Safety Tyree Gillespie (standard contract)

A University of Missouri product and a former fourth-round pick of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, Gillespie is back with the Chiefs after spending a portion of last season on Kansas City's practice squad. Gillespie has appeared in 14 games during his career, most recently taking the field for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. Prior to joining the Jaguars, Gillespie logged 150 special teams snaps for Las Vegas in 2021.