Lynn Bowden Jr. spent the 2022 NFL season on the New England Patriots’ practice squad.

It seems the former Kentucky star made an impression on Bill Belichick and the Patriots’ coaching staff, though, as the team wants to keep him around ahead of the 2023 season.

On Monday evening, the Patriots announced via Twitter that Bowden had been signed to a future contract with the team:

A future contract is one that keeps Bowden in New England, but doesn’t officially kick in until the start of the next league year. Bowden’s contract won’t count against the Patriots’ 53-man roster limit.

Bowden was a third-round pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the Raiders, Miami Dolphins and now the Patriots during his young NFL career.