Today is the big NFL cut day, and hundreds of players around the league get the bad news that they will not be playing for the team they have been practicing with. While many of these players are the kind of players that nobody has heard of outside of the fans of their college school, these are still elite athletes who have spent their entire lives reaching for the NFL dream.
So when they get cut, what happens? While there isn’t an answer for everybody, players take a few common paths.
Get Signed Somewhere Else
Many players who get cut end up getting signed somewhere else. Traditionally, there aren’t many trades between teams for players who are on the fence about making a team. Instead, teams wait for players to get cut to sign them.
Some players end up on practice squads for other teams, while others make the final 53-man roster. It really just depends on what needs teams have once they get through their preseason games.
One example of a player who recently went this route was Taysom Hill. The Packers waived Taysom Hill. However, he had played well enough in the preseason to impress Sean Payton and the Saints. The Saints picked him up, and the rest is history. He has since become perhaps the most dynamic player in the history of the NFL with his ability to throw, catch, run, block, and play special teams.
Make a Practice Squad
A team is allowed to sign up 17 players for its practice squad for players who just barely miss the 53-man roster. For players who barely miss the cut for the 53-man roster, a team can still sign them for the practice squad, where they can become active roster players if another player is dropped or put on the IR list.
Making a practice squad can sometimes be more about luck than skill. Teams tend to lean heavily into linemen and defensive players because they are the ones who get injured the most often. Sure, a quarterback or receiver may make the practice squad, but a player has a much better chance of doing so if they play defensive line or linebacker.
It may not be the dream job, but it pays well and gives at least a direct path to the active roster.
Play in Other Leagues
Historically this hasn’t been a very popular option, but with the recent success of teams signing players from the XFL/USFL/UFL, more players are looking at playing in either the UFL or the CFL (Canadian Football League).
The tough part is that other leagues don’t pay very well (at all), making this option difficult to pursue long-term. A player averages about $60,000 in the XFL, which may be enough to live alone, but it may not be a very good option if trying to support a family, particularly with the type of nutrition, travel, and training needed to succeed.
Other players decide not to play in other leagues but just stay around the game. This means training with current and former athletes and staying in shape and ready to go just in case. This happened last year to linebacker Kyle Van Noy. Van Noy didn’t make the 53-man roster or the practice squad last year, but after some injuries, the linebacker signed with the Ravens quickly elevated the depth chart and recorded nine sacks during the 2023 season.
Find a Job Somewhere Else
It’s crazy to imagine a football player not playing football, but that is what a lot of players end up doing. Whether they get into broadcasting, coaching, or the business world, many former NFL practice squad players end up finding a great career away from the game of football.
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