The NFL waiver wire order is back in the spotlight, with QB Baker Mayfield set to be released by the Carolina Panthers. Mayfield will not simply be able to sign with whichever team he desires until he has passed through the waiver system. Here is how that system works, the current order, and more frequently asked questions.
2022 NFL Waiver Wire Order
From the end of Week 3 onwards, the NFL waiver order is determined based on the current standings. Here is the current waiver wire order as of Monday, December 5 at 11:45 p.m. ET.
- Houston Texans
- Chicago Bears
- Los Angeles Rams
- Denver Broncos
- New Orleans Saints
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Carolina Panthers
- Arizona Cardinals
- Indianapolis Colts
- Green Bay Packers
- Atlanta Falcons
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Cleveland Browns
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Detroit Lions
- Los Angeles Chargers
- New England Patriots
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Washington Commanders
- Seattle Seahawks
- New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
- Miami Dolphins
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Baltimore Ravens
- San Francisco 49ers
- Dallas Cowboys
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Buffalo Bills
- Minnesota Vikings
- Philadelphia Eagles
How Does the NFL Waiver Wire Work?
The waiver wire can be a tad complicated. The first point to note is that not all cuts are the same. The NFL differentiates waiver wire eligibility between vested veterans and less experienced players. A vested veteran is a player who has accrued four or more seasons.
The NFL defines an accrued season as six or more games on either a team’s 53-man roster, on injured reserve, or on the physically unable-to-perform list. If a player is categorized as a “veteran,” they skip the waiver process and become unrestricted free agents. However, after the trade deadline passes on November 2, vested veterans will have to go through waivers if released.
If a player is claimed on the waiver wire, the team selecting them must have an open spot on their 53-man roster. If the spot does not already exist before the claim is accepted, teams usually have about an hour to create a spot once they have received the league’s personnel notice that the player has been claimed. This can be done by either releasing another player or using the practice squad or IR.
If a player is not claimed on the waiver wire, they become unrestricted free agents. One interesting point to note is that there is no limit on how many players you can make a claim for. However, a team needs to have space on their active roster for the player they are claiming. Additionally, the waiver wire order does not reset once a claim is made.