The NFL’s roster-building process goes beyond final cuts. While teams are heading into Week 1 with the bulk of their season-long talent, a quirk in the NFL rule book could spark some notable transactions in Week 2.
Explaining the NFL’s Week 1 Vested Veteran Rule
In the NFL, a player becomes a “vested” veteran after accruing four seasons of experience. That status comes with notable benefits. For one, it allows a player to avoid the waiver wire prior to the trade deadline. When a vested veteran is cut from January to mid-October, they become free agents immediately after 4 p.m. ET on the day they are released.
And while that benefit is important for career control, the vested veteran tag can also be a bit of an inconvenience. Vested veterans receive the benefit of fully guaranteed salaries if they are on the Week 1 roster on game day. While that’s a terrific incentive for long-term service, players on the bubble can be put at a disadvantage because of the guaranteed timeline.
For example, if a player is set to make $4 million in base salary but is being outperformed by a second-year player, even by a smidge, a team is likely to cut the experienced player to avoid guaranteeing his $4 million salary. That’s partially why some teams try to beat the system by releasing vested veterans during final cuts only to bring them back in Week 2 without guaranteeing their salaries.
Essentially, teams can use clever accounting by sticking it out a younger player for a week before bringing back a veteran who can be a reliable piece of the puzzle. Once Week 2 hits, the teams can sign vested veterans without guaranteeing their salaries. That protects the team in case the player suffers an early injury or bombs on the field.
Why the Rule Leads to Transactional Traffic in Week 2
Players who are dealing with notable injuries — like wideout Odell Beckham Jr. — or diminishing skill sets — like safety Anthony Harris — are still looking for jobs on the open market. Part of the reason why those players aren’t on rosters is because teams aren’t looking to commit to them while they’re rehabbing or struggling in performance.
But, with Week 2 on the horizon, signing those players becomes more palatable. If Beckham fails to recover or has a setback with his knee injury, his new team won’t need to bury a massive chunk of salary cap space. If Harris arrives with a new franchise and proves not to be a fit for the defense, the new team can cut him without a notable financial commitment.
So, teams can have their cake and eat it too if they simply wait out Week 1, take their lumps with a less experienced player on Sunday (or Monday), and add an experienced cog to the lineup next Tuesday.
