I had a recent conversation with my brother, and we were talking about who had recently been cut, and who the Ravens were/ should be interested in, and it turns out I didn't REALLY understand how the waiver system works. This is due mainly to the fact that the official NFLPA (NFL Players Association) document reads as easy as something by James Joyce.
So after some research, here is a quick primer on how the waiver system works. (bulleted for your convenience)
- Teams are required to have a 53 man roster.
- A player is put on the waiver system if they have four or less "accrued" years in the league (6 or more games, and some other small print such as IR or practice squad)
- If a player has more then four years, they become a free agent.
The teams with the worst record the previous season have first priority on players on waivers. If they pass, it goes to the team with the next worse record, and continues on down the list. The top teams from the previous season have to wait until the progression goes through the teams below them to see if they have a shot. That is why teams are often slow to speculate or react when a player that is seemingly a good fit (David Tyree for the Ravens) becomes available.
For those who enjoy punishment, you can find the full definition, in all of its legal glory
HERE 
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