When Do Waivers Clear in the NFL?
Contents
After the NFL season starts, all teams have to make sure their roster is under the salary cap. If a player is waived, they are free to sign with any team that claims them off of waivers.
Introduction
Waivers are a process that every NFL team goes through at the beginning of the season. All NFL teams must submit their rosters by 4:00 p.m. ET on the Tuesday following the final preseason game. After rosters are due, any player that is not on a team’s 53-man roster is subject to waivers.
What is the NFL Waiver Wire?
In the National Football League, the waiver wire is a system that allows teams to pick up players who have been released by other teams. When a player is waived, they are placed on a list of players who are available to be claimed by any team in the league. Waiver wire claims must be made within a certain timeframe, and players will usually only clear waivers if they go unclaimed during that period.
The NFL waiver wire is important because it gives teams a chance to improve their rosters after the regular season has already begun. It can also be used as a way to get rid of players who are no longer needed or who are not performing up to standards. In some cases, teams will place players on waivers in order to gauge interest from other teams before making a final decision on whether or not to release them.
Players who are claimed off of waivers will usually have their contracts with their new team terminate at the end of the season. However, in some cases, players may agree to terms with their new team that extend beyond the current season.
The NFL waiver wire system can be complex, and it is constantly evolving. For more information on how the system works, and for up-to-date information on which players have been placed on waivers, please visit the official website of the National Football League.
How Does the Waiver Wire Work?
The waiver wire is how NFL teams fill their rosters with players who are not currently on any team. When a player is cut by his team or becomes a free agent, he goes through the waiver wire before he can sign with another team.
Players who have been in the league for less than four years are subject to the waiver wire. Players who have been in the league for more than four years can sign with any team they choose without going through the waiver wire.
Teams can put in claims for players on the waiver wire starting on Sunday at 4pm EST after the NFL season ends and continuing until 4pm EST on Tuesday. Claims are processed in reverse order of NFL standings, so the team with the worst record gets first claim to any player that they want. If more than one team puts in a claim for the same player, then the player goes to the team with the worst record.
Who is Eligible for the Waiver Wire?
In order to be eligible for the waiver wire, a player must first be cut by his team. Once a player is cut, he is placed on waivers for a 24-hour period. During that time, any team in the league can claim the player off waivers. If more than one team claims the player, the team with the worst record will be awarded the player.
What Happens When a Player is Claimed Off Waivers?
If more than one team makes a claim on a player, the team with the worst record will be awarded the player. If two teams have identical records, the claiming order is determined by strength of schedule. The team that played the tougher opponents will get the player.
Conclusion
After further research, it appears that the vast majority of NFL Waiver Wire claims are processed on Tuesdays at 4pm EST, with some additional processing taking place on Wednesdays. Therefore, if you are hoping to claim a player off of waivers, it is advisable to do so on Tuesday afternoon.
