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Understanding the NFL waiver process

August 27, 2025

Tuesday marked a particularly challenging moment in the NFL calendar.

Teams were working to finalize their rosters to 53 players by 4 PM Eastern Time. That unfortunate situation meant that nearly 1,000 players received disappointing news ahead of the deadline.

However, this doesn’t necessarily signal the end of their NFL careers. Many of these players remain eligible for signing through the league’s waiver process.

Let’s take a closer look at how this works.

What is the NFL exemption process?

When players are released by teams and qualify for exemptions, they can be picked up by other teams through this process. Essentially, any of the 32 NFL teams can claim them from the exemption pool, assuming the player’s current contract if the claim is successful.

The first exemption deadline for the 2025 season is set for Wednesday at 12 PM Eastern Time. Teams need to submit their waiver requests by that time for their claims to be processed.

Which players are eligible for exemption?

This situation separates vested players from those without investments.

Vested players are defined as having over four years of NFL service. These individuals are simply released and quickly become free agents, able to sign with any team they choose.

On the other hand, players with less than four years of service are considered non-vested. When cut, they receive a “waiver” designation, as previously mentioned.

If non-vested players “pass the exemption,” it means they aren’t claimed by any team and thus can become free agents. They can even re-sign with their original team’s practice squad.

After the NFL trading deadline—set for November 5th—even vested players will have to go through the exemption process.

What is the current exemption order?

In the first three weeks of the NFL season, the exemption order will follow the standings from the 2025 NFL Draft. So, teams with the poorest records in 2024 will have the top priority.

Once those first three weeks pass, the exemption order will reset based on current standings and will be adjusted weekly for the rest of the season.

This means, for instance, that the Tennessee Titans, having drafted Camward first in 2025, will have the first opportunity to pick from available players. If two teams claim the same player, the team with the better exemption priority secures the player.

For example, if both the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints try to claim the same player, the Raiders would win that bid.

Here’s the exemption order for the first three weeks of the 2025 NFL season: