Raiders Claim No. 1 NFL Waiver Priority as 32 Teams Cut to 53
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 31
Raiders Claim No. 1 NFL Waiver Priority as 32 Teams Cut to 53
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 31
Summary
Las Vegas opens the 2026 NFL waiver cycle with first priority, ahead of the Jets and Cardinals, after roster cutdown day pushed eligible players onto waivers.
More than 1,000 players were released as all 32 clubs trimmed to the 53-man limit by Sunday’s 6 p.m. Eastern deadline.
Players with fewer than four accrued seasons now go through the waiver system, where the highest-priority team wins if multiple clubs submit claims.
The order will follow last season’s draft order for the first three weeks, then switch in Week 4 to reverse current standings; veterans with four or more accrued seasons become free agents instead.