Many NFL fans are curious about the current waiver wire order and how waivers work in the league. Recently, with the Baltimore Ravens releasing wide receiver Diontae Johnson, there’s plenty of intruige over which teams will have first dibs on the veteran wide receiver. Let’s break down the 2024 order and explain the process.
What Is the 2024 NFL Waiver Wire Order?
Right now, the waiver wire is the same as the 2024 NFL Draft order (excluding any pre-draft trades). From the day after the Super Bowl until the end of the third regular-season game the following season, the waiver wire order stays the same and is based on the previous season’s standings. Here is the current waiver wire order:
1. New York Giants, 2-12
2. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-12
3. New England Patriots, 3-11
4. Carolina Panthers, 3-11
5. Tennessee Titans, 3-11
6. Jacksonville Jaguars, 3-11
7. Cleveland Browns, 3-11
8. New York Jets, 4-10
9. Chicago Bears, 4-10
10. New Orleans Saints, 5-9
11. Miami Dolphins, 6-8
12. Cincinnati Bengals, 6-8
13. Dallas Cowboys, 6-8
14. Indianapolis Colts, 6-8
15. San Francisco 49ers, 6-8
16. Arizona Cardinals, 7-7
17. Atlanta Falcons, 7-7
18. Seattle Seahawks, 8-6
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8-6
20. Los Angeles Rams, 8-6
21. Los Angeles Chargers, 9-6
22. Houston Texans, 9-6
23. Denver Broncos, 9-6
24. Washington Commanders, 9-5
25. Baltimore Ravens, 9-5
26. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-4
27. Green Bay Packers, 10-4
28. Minnesota Vikings, 12-2
29. Buffalo Bills, 11-3
30. Philadelphia Eagles, 12-2
31. Detroit Lions, 12-2
32. Kansas City Chiefs, 14-1
How Does the NFL Waiver Wire Work?
The waiver wire is a bit complicated. Not all cuts are the same, and not every player who gets released hits the waiver wire.
When a player has accrued four or more seasons in the NFL, they are a vested veteran. 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 (PUP) list. When a vested veteran is released early in the season, they don’t hit the waiver wire; instead, they are free to sign with any team they’d like as a free agent.
However, after the trade deadline passes on Nov. 5, vested veterans will have to go through waivers if released.
If a player gets cut and they haven’t accrued four seasons in the NFL, they hit waivers. 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 doesn’t 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, putting a player on injured reserve (IR), or using the practice squad.
If a player is not claimed on the waiver wire, they clear waivers and become an unrestricted free agent.
It’s worth noting that there is no limit on how many players a team can make a claim for and the waiver wire doesn’t reset once a claim is made (unlike in fantasy football). So, if the No. 1 team wants to claim multiple players, they will get all of them (as long as they have the roster space).
