How do waviers work?

[foozool13]

Ok so I just thought id ask really quickly since i see it popping up everywhere about how we get dibs on waivers or what not...all i know is b/c we were sorry last year we have priority on all waivers i guess...but How do waviers work?

[FinFrenzy]

It goes through the same order as the draft. If two teams claim a player the team with the worst record gets him.

[Nublar7]

Also keep in mind that a player only goes on the Waiver Wire if he has less then 4 years of experience in the NFL. If say an 8-year veteran is released, he does not go on the waiver wire and is free to sign with anyone.

Since Miami was the worst team last year, they get priority over everyone to claim someone. Basically, if a player goes to the waiver wire and Miami puts a claim in, they know he will be awarded to the Dolphins. When they put their claim in, they also have to put up a player that will be released once the claim becomes official.

[burger13]

one additional note.....there is a certain point during the season that all released players go on waivers, regardless of experience.

[emeraldfin]

Do teams have to then pay compensation if they want the services of a player with less than 4 years experience?

[LonghornsLegend]

Also its worth noting that you only have the highest waiver priority once, once you use it to claim a player off waivers you go back to having the last, you don't get the highest priority on any player you want all off-season...Which is why teams don't claim players too often unless its a guy they really covet, majority of the time they clear waivers and sign as a Free Agent.

[burger13]

Originally Posted by LonghornsLegend

Also its worth noting that you only have the highest waiver priority once, once you use it to claim a player off waivers you go back to having the last, you don't get the highest priority on any player you want all off-season...Which is why teams don't claim players too often unless its a guy they really covet, majority of the time they clear waivers and sign as a Free Agent.

I don't believe that is correct. I have never seen that written anywhere in regard to the NFL waiver process. If you have a link to anything, I would appreciate it.

[HughC]

Here's a link regarding players with four years of service (i.e., waivers vs. free agency.)

http://www.nflplayers.com/user/templ...pid=548&type=c


I'll see if I can find one regarding waiver order (remaining first vs. going to the end of the line if you claim somebody.)

As far as compensation goes, I'm pretty sure the team that gives up a player gets nothing (it was their decision to cut him) although the team that makes the claim may have to pay a nominal fee to the NFL.

[burger13]

Originally Posted by HughC

Here's a link regarding players with four years of service (i.e., waivers vs. free agency.)

http://www.nflplayers.com/user/templ...pid=548&type=c


I'll see if I can find one regarding waiver order (remaining first vs. going to the end of the line if you claim somebody.)

As far as compensation goes, I'm pretty sure the team that gives up a player gets nothing (it was their decision to cut him) although the team that makes the claim may have to pay a nominal fee to the NFL.

there is no compensation to the team that releases the player....the new team is responsible for the players current (or old) contract.

[HughC]

According to this column from another site, the waiver order is identical to the order of the previous draft (i.e., inverse order of the previous season's record) through the first two weeks of the season. Then after the third game of the season the order is determined by the current won-loss record (again, worst to best.)

http://www.jaguars.com/news/article.aspx?id=1566

I saw several articles but nowhere did I see that a team 'goes to the end of the line' after they make a claim (other than in fantasy football.)

I also saw that if more than one player is available on waivers, and a team wants to put a claim on more then one player, they need to designate who thei "priority" pick is, in order to determine who gets which player.

Apparently there is more than one theory where the term "waiver" comes from. The article above says it goes back to the days of information being communicated by wire, while another site says it is because a team is "waiving" their right to claim a player.

[HughC]

Originally Posted by burger13

there is no compensation to the team that releases the player....the new team is responsible for the players current (or old) contract.

That's true, very good point. For players subject to waivers (less than four years service, or veterans waived after the trading deadline) and claimed through waivers, the new team takes over the old contract. However, if nobody makes a waiver claim, then he is treated like a vested veteran or an undrafted free agent; in other words any team can sign him to any contract; the old contract is over and done.

This is the reason teams often don't make waiver claims on an available player; they may want to sign him, but feel his current contract is too high, so they wait till he clears waivers and then sign him to a smaller contract.

[Dudeman]

Originally Posted by burger13

one additional note.....there is a certain point during the season that all released players go on waivers, regardless of experience.

in october, after the trade deadline