Sports

NFL waiver wire explained and the Eagles’ position in the claiming order

Nairavoice · Aug 29, 2026 · 2 min read

The preseason is almost over and NFL teams have until Sunday, August 30 at 6:00 PM Eastern to get their roster down to just 53 players.

37 players from each team will end up waived or released (if not traded or injury designated), and teams then have an opportunity to put a claim on any player subject to the waiver wire — and they have until Monday, August 31 at 1:00 to make those decisions. Players claimed will head off to their new teams, and those that pass through unclaimed, will become unrestricted free agents. From there, teams will fill their 16-man practice squads and finalize things heading into Week 1 of the regular season.

Not all players are subject to the waiver wire, however, vested veterans — players who have four years of accrued NFL service time — are outright released. Those players become free agents right away. Teams who are concerned about losing a young player on the waiver wire, might consider releasing a vested veteran on the bubble instead, whom they can bring back immediately on the practice squad, or to the active roster after moving someone else to the scout team.

The Eagles currently sit at the No. 23 spot on the waiver wire, which mirrors the 2026 NFL Draft order. Last year, Howie Roseman claimed center Willie Lampkin, who was waived by the Los Angeles Rams. And Lampkin has been a training camp standout this summer.

The NFL waiver order during the preseason and the first three weeks of the regular season reflects the 2026 NFL Draft order, and then after four games, the order resets to the current league standings. So, right now, the Raiders currently have first pick at every player on waivers. The wire order is also fixed, so the Raiders will get first rights to every single player available regardless of whether they pick one (or many).