NFL News: Australian Jarryd Hayne Agrees To Futures Deal With Detroit Lions

Jarryd Hayne’s dream of playing in the National Football League, or NFL, became closer to reality after the Australian signed a futures contracts with the Detroit Lions.

The Daily Telegraph reported the deal will be formally announced this week. The former Parramatta Eels star in the Australian professional rugby league football club, National Rugby League, or NRL was also talking to the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks but chose the Lions because the Australian believes he’ll be properly developed there as an NFL running back.

NFL veteran Reggie Bush, who now plays for the Lions declared that Hayne has the potential to play in the big leagues. In mid-October 2014, Hayne announced that he’s quitting the NRL to try to play in the NFL in the United States. Hayne has suited up for the Eels in the NRL for the past nine years from 2006 to 2014 playing the the fullback/wing/centre positions. He was a star player in the local Australian rugby league but chose to give up that status with hopes that his skills are good enough to play in the NFL.

The worth and terms of the future’s deal was undisclosed but the contract is similar as a regular contract but it won’t take affect until the next league season or in 2015. Teams can sign players to futures contracts and it won’t count against the team salary cap until the start of the new season. Other NFL teams can not sign players in a futures contract which means that Lions will have Hayne in the line-up for the new season.

It remains to be seen if Hayne can crack a roster spot for the Detroit squad or what position will he play in American football. Early in 2015, Hayne was warned of the Lions’ penchant for experimenting with including athletes from other sports. Hayne has less worries with that news now after the Lions offered him the futures contract.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author.