How is waiver priority determined?

Waiver priority in the NFL is determined in inverse order of standings, meaning that teams with worse records have a higher priority when making waiver claims on players who have been released by other teams. This system is designed to help struggling teams improve by giving them a better chance to acquire talent that may be available due to other teams releasing players.

When a player is waived, teams that want to claim that player submit a request, and the team that has the lowest winning percentage (among teams with a claim) gets priority. This process is intended to create a competitive balance across the league by allowing teams that are not performing well to have first dibs on available talent, which could help them improve during the season.

Ultimately, this approach aligns with the competitive nature of the league, where teams that are underperforming are given opportunities to enhance their rosters, while teams that are doing well are less prioritized in waiver claims, thereby maintaining a level of competition across the NFL.