Sep 23, 2021

  • Jeremy FowlerESPN Staff Writer

    Shut

    • ESPN staff writer
    • Previously a college football reporter for CBSSports.com
    • Academy of Florida graduate

NFL practice squads used to be an afterthought, a place for late-round picks and undrafted rookies to develop behind the scenes. Now, those squads are well-stocked with veterans who one time racked upward millions -- good players taking jobs they never thought they'd need for less than 30 cents on the league-minimum dollar.

Recently expanded practice squads and rule changes are assuasive teams to stash well-known talent, essentially owning their rights without placing them on active rosters. The latest example is wide receiver Kenny Stills, who once played on a $32 million deal. At present, he's a Saints practice-squader. Running dorsum Le'Veon Bell, who has 48 career touchdowns and iii seasons with more than i,200 rushing yards, is currently sitting on the Ravens' practice squad. Information technology'south non such a bad gig: Players are paid to practice and stay in shape with the loose promise of getting activated on game days.

Because this is easygoing changing the mode NFL teams are doing business concern this year, we figured we'd bring you lot up to speed on how it all works in 2021. Hither's everything you need to know about how these squads work and who is currently filling them out.

How do the practice team rosters piece of work?

Before this flavour, the NFL and NFL Players Association made 16-man practice squads permanent after experimenting with the format in 2020. From 2022 to '19, practice squads were 10 players deep, so the changes accept created 192 more jobs beyond the league.

And hither'southward the kicker: Upward to six of those 16 players can take unlimited NFL experience, a stark departure from the limitations of previous years, when players could have no more than than two accrued NFL seasons for eligibility. And each Tuesday, teams tin designate 4 players as protected, so they tin't be placed on another team'southward active roster from that day until kickoff. Teams can still poach on Mondays, though.

2 players can be promoted to the agile roster on game days. They and then return to the practice squad unless the team offers a one-year deal. Only teams can't activate a player more than twice; after the second fourth dimension, they must determine whether to promote him to the active roster.

Why did it change last year, and why did it stay the same this year?

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the changes. The NFL and NFLPA had originally agreed on 12-man squads for 2020, but once information technology became clear that the impact of COVID-xix could disrupt rosters across the league, both sides settled on 16 -- and then made that number permanent this year.

Do teams like the change?

They dear it! Ravens coach John Harbaugh could barely hide his excitement when I recently asked virtually the setup, calling it a "plus for everybody." Baltimore has been among the most ambitious to acquire veteran talent.

"Hopefully they will consider these rules long-term, considering it gives you more roster flexibility," Harbaugh said. "When you do sustain an injury, it allows players to be prepared when they become out there and play as opposed to guys who haven't practiced."

How do they have advantage of it?

Teams are more than reluctant to add expert free agents to the agile roster considering they have these actress practise team spots to dangle. They know some players will have those offers because they might get activated on game days, which means ane week'due south pay at an NFL salary.

The veterans minimum is $990,000 for players with 4-5 years of feel, with a sliding scale to $1.075 million for 7 years or more. Those amounts are prorated based on number of weeks on the active roster. An 8% subtract in the salary cap due to COVID-19 already diluted the gratuitous-agency marketplace, and this has made it more difficult to get true one-year deals.

What virtually the players' perspective?

Several veteran NFL agents whose clients just dealt with this call it a humbling experience for the actor. These cases are all over: Player X waits out free agency for a prominent role somewhere, counting on injuries leaguewide to open up that door, simply for teams to offering the practice squad instead.

For some, that'south a gamble worth taking for a adventure to beginning. After ii years with the Chiefs, center Austin Reiter turned down a multimillion offer to re-sign. He wanted to continue to start. But that chance never came in free bureau. After center Erik McCoy's injury in New Orleans, the Saints offered Reiter a practice squad job and elevated him in Week 2.

Baltimore offered veteran cornerback Buster Skrine the chance to bring together the practice team, only he has nonetheless to take it. Running back Devonta Freeman turned downwardly Baltimore in Calendar week 1, then took the do team job later in the week after Gus Edwards' injury, figuring he would play a role on Sundays. He was chosen up Week 2.

"Some players are used to a certain standard and have a hard time adjusting to going down to a practice squad," a veteran amanuensis said. "Even though information technology's sort of a span from unemployment to the active roster and they'll probably become called upwards and go activated total time, they don't e'er see it that mode."

Who are some of the big names on exercise squads right now?

Just start with the Ravens, who acquit running dorsum Le'Veon Bell (ii-time All Pro, $45 million in career earnings), linebacker Josh Bynes (10-year NFLer), safety Anthony Levine Sr. (131 games with Baltimore since 2012) and offensive tackle Andre Smith (onetime first-round pick).

Other large names include wide receivers Travis Benjamin (49ers), Phillip Dorsett Two (Jaguars) and David Moore (Raiders), quarterback Nick Mullens (Browns), kicker Nick Folk (Patriots), safeties Karl Joseph (Steelers) and Sean Davis (Bengals), corner Nickell Robey-Coleman (Lions), running dorsum Jordan Howard (Eagles), defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo (Browns) and offensive tackle Bobby Hart (Bills).

In Hart'south instance, the Bills added the same player who received a $137,500 signing bonus from Buffalo in April as function of a one-year deal. Buffalo cut him in August, then picked him up on its practice team this calendar week.

Past unofficial count, at least 9 NFL veterans on practice squads to starting time Week ane earned at least $15 million over their careers -- and that's non counting Dorsett, who has made $xi.6 million. You could field an NFL team comprised solely of practice squad players, and that team would compete on Sundays.

Additionally, ix quarterbacks were protected this week: Steven Montez (Lions), Kurt Benkert (Packers), Brett Rypien (Broncos), Matt Barkley (Titans), Trace McSorley (Ravens), Brett Hundley (Colts), Nick Mullens (Browns), Reid Sinnett (Dolphins) and Josh Johnson (Jets).

OK, but why are there suddenly large names at that place?

Considering these are the only jobs bachelor. The NFL squeeze-out is on. Unless you're a acme complimentary agent however available -- defensive tackle Geno Atkins isn't about to have a practice team job -- players become where the work is.

Can Le'Veon Bell really non country on a real roster somewhere?

Information technology's uncertain whether Bell received offers elsewhere, but fit was a central benchmark for him. He targeted teams that prioritize the run game. Baltimore is certainly that.

Still, a player is only as good every bit his options, and teams had concerns well-nigh Bell'southward waning explosion. In 26 games with two teams, he averaged just iii.iv yards per behave over the past two seasons. So this might be the best he can do for at present.

Why wouldn't every team have this approach with large-proper name free agents who tin't find NFL deals?

Almost are. Nigh every NFL team has at least i practice squad player who has logged meaningful NFL snaps over multiple years. It's just that some are more than ambitious than others.

What tin teams do to entice players to accept these jobs?

Teams say players can employ the practice team to larn the system and ameliorate conditioning before getting a potential call-up.

"For players who have been in free agency all offseason, it's good for them to come in and get prepare to play so that when they exercise get chosen upon, they are ready and tin prevent injury," a loftier-ranking NFC exec said.

More available jobs let players to exist selective. Safety Sean Davis, Pittsburgh's 2nd-round pick in 2016, had been released by Washington and Indianapolis in recent years. He wanted to make an impact somewhere. Cincinnati needed a fourth safe after Ricardo Allen went to the injured reserve, and so Davis signed at that place in Week 2. He got activated, and the Bengals protected his rights this week.

"It'south a new normal as far as the business is concerned," said Davis about the new influence of practice squads. "My head is held loftier, and I simply wanted to go somewhere where I believed I could brand plays and contribute."

For Davis, Austin Reiter and others, the hope is to get called up twice, and so get activated for the remainder of the yr and brand shut to $ane million, feeling similar they were never on the practice squad at all.

New England recently worked this angle with quarterback Brian Hoyer, who was cut and signed to the exercise team for Week 1, leaving Mac Jones as the but quarterback on the game-twenty-four hour period roster. The Patriots activated Hoyer for Week 1, and then signed him outright earlier Week 2. They made that determination a week before the deadline, but the transaction took the guesswork out of the backup QB spot. And on Saturday, Hoyer ended up signing a similar deal to the one he agreed to in the offseason: one year, $i.075 million with $100,000 guaranteed.

How much does the average practice squad player brand?

Players with tenure earn $14,000 per week, or $252,000 per flavour, a overnice spike from the $viii,400 exercise squad players used to make. And players with 2 or fewer accrued NFL seasons make $ix,200. Those numbers volition increment exponentially over the life of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, upward to $xx,050 in 2028.

There'south no room for players and teams to negotiate the coin. The rates are the rates.

How does it work with the bacon cap?

Practice team players do not count against the salary cap. If someone gets promoted to the active roster, he'd exist at a minimum salary that wouldn't negatively affect the cap anyhow. So this is almost like a tax-gratis benefit, similar airline points and hotel rewards programs.

What does an average practice-squader's week look like?

He does everything a histrion would during the calendar week. He practices, does picture piece of work and eats meals at the squad facility. He travels with the team for road games. Simply on game day, he'south in street clothes unless chosen up.

Can they exist traded? Signed for ane calendar week and released?

Only players on the active roster tin can exist traded. But teams can definitely sign a practice squad role player for one week, only to release him the next. It's later Week one, which means the salaries of vested veterans are no longer guaranteed. So players are truly week-to-week anyway.

What would make established veterans feel meliorate nigh the practice squad setup?

Improve payouts. If the league minimum is around $58,000 per game, and so practice squad money for the well-known practice squad players should probably be closer to $35,000 per calendar week.