How Much Do Practice Squad Players Make in the NFL?

How much do NFL practice squad players make? We break down the earnings and contracts for these valuable members of NFL teams.

Introduction

Practice squad players in the National Football League (NFL) are similar to those in other professional sports leagues in the United States. They are not starters, but they play an important role in helping teams prepare for games and develop young talent. These players typically have fewer years of experience than starters and are paid less as a result.

In recent years, the minimum salary for practice squad players has been $6,900 per week during the regular season and $2,875 per week during the preseason. Players on the practice squad are not eligible for benefits such as health insurance or pension plans.

The NFL is divided into two conferences, the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Each conference is further divided into four divisions: East, West, North, and South.

How Much Do Practice Squad Players Make in the NFL?

Practice squad players in the National Football League (NFL) earn a minimum of $8,000 per week during the regular season and $4,000 per week during the preseason.

Per Game

Practice squad players are paid per game, just like players on the 53-man roster. They make a minimum of $8,000 per game, which comes out to $136,000 over a 17-week season. But that’s just the minimum. Many practice squad players make much more than that.

According to Spotrac, the average practice squad salary in 2018 was $15,985 per week, or $271,000 over a 17-week season. That’s nearly double the minimum salary. Practice squad salaries vary widely from team to team and year to year, but they usually aren’t too far below the league minimum for 53-man roster players, which was $27,598 in 2018.

There are a few reasons why practice squad salaries have increased in recent years. First, the NFL increased the number of practice squad spots from eight to 10 in 2014. That increased demand for practice squad players and allowed teams to be more selective about who they signed.

Second, the new collective bargaining agreement that went into effect in 2011 included a provision that allows teams to sign up to four players with two years of experience to the practice squad. That gave teams more options when it came to signing practice squad players and increased competition for those spots.

Finally, the new CBA included a provision that increased practice squad salaries by $6,000 in 2012 and 2013 and by $8,000 in 2014. That helped push average salaries up even further.

Per Week

As of the 2019 NFL season, practice squad players make a minimum of $8,000 per week during the season. That is $136,000 over the 17-week regular season. They are also paid for any playoff games their team competes in.

Per Season

Practice squad players in the NFL make a minimum of $8,000 per season. However, most players make much more than that. The average salary for a practice squad player is $118,400 per year.

How Does This Compare to Other Leagues?

Practice squad players in the NFL earn a minimum of $8,000 per week during the 17-week regular season. That’s a total of $136,000 over the course of the season. But how does that compare to other leagues? Let’s take a look.

NBA

In the NBA, practice squad players earn a minimum of $7,500 per week during the season. However, players with two or more years of experience in the league can earn up to $12,000 per week. Practice squad players are also eligible for some benefits, including health insurance and a retirement plan.

NHL

NHL teams are allowed to carry up to 23 players on their roster, but only 18 of those are eligible to dress and play in each game. The other five players are considered healthy scratches and do not count towards the team’s salary cap.

Practice squad players in the NHL do not receive a salary, but they do receive a per diem of $50 per day when they are on the road and $85 per day when they are at home. They also receive free housing during training camp and the season.

MLB

The MLB also has practice squads, but they are a little different. In the MLB, players can be on the practice squad for an unlimited amount of time. So, if a player is good enough, he can stay on the practice squad for his entire career. The MLB also has a lot more players on their practice squads. Each team can have up to 60 players in their organization (40 on the active roster and 20 on the 40-man roster).

Conclusion

From the information gathered, it seems that practice squad players do earn a decent wage, with the median salary being $8,000 per week. However, it is important to note that this is not guaranteed income, as players can be released from the practice squad at any time. In addition, the income earned by practice squad players is not as high as that of starting players or even some reserve players.