NFL Practice Squad Salary: Highest Paid Squads in 2023

If you are a fan of the NFL, you might have heard of the practice squad, a group of players who are not part of the active roster but help the team prepare for games by simulating the opponent’s schemes and strategies. But do you know how much these players make, how they can join the practice squad, and who are the highest-paid practice squad players in the league? In this article, we will answer these questions and more, using the latest information from the 2023 season.

What is the NFL Practice Squad?

The NFL practice squad is a 16-player unit that each team can maintain throughout the season. The practice squad players are not eligible to play in games, unless they are elevated to the active roster before the game. The practice squad players can also sign with other teams’ active rosters, subject to some restrictions.

The practice squad serves as a developmental and backup pool for the team, as well as a scouting tool for the coaching staff. The practice squad players can learn from the veterans, improve their skills, and stay ready for a potential opportunity to play in the NFL.

How to Become an NFL Practice Squad Player?

To become an NFL practice squad player, one must first be eligible for the practice squad. The eligibility rules are as follows:

• Players who do not have an accrued season of NFL experience (rookies);
• Players who were on the active list for fewer than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s);
• Up to four players per team who have earned no more than two accrued seasons (no game limitations);
• Up to six players per team with no limitations as to their number of earned accrued seasons.

An accrued season is gained by being on a team’s roster, on injured reserve, or a physically unable-to-perform list for six or more games during a season.

To join the practice squad, a player must first clear waivers, meaning that no other team has claimed him after he was released by his previous team. Then, he can sign a practice squad contract with any team, as long as he meets the eligibility criteria and the team has an available spot on its practice squad.

A practice squad contract is a weekly deal that can be terminated at any time by the team or the player. A practice squad player can also be signed by another team to its active roster, as long as he is added to the 53-man roster and not the practice squad of the new team. A practice squad player cannot sign with his team’s next opponent after 4 p.m. ET six days preceding the game (or 10 days preceding bye weeks).

How Much Does an NFL Practice Squad Player Make?

The salary of an NFL practice squad player depends on his experience and tenure in the league. There are two separate brackets that the NFL uses to determine practice squad salaries.

The minimum weekly salary for a practice squad player with less than two accrued seasons in 2023 is $12,000, which amounts to $216,000 for an 18-week season. This salary will increase gradually until 2030, when it will reach $16,750 per week or $301,500 per season.

The minimum weekly salary for a practice squad player with more than two accrued seasons in 2023 is $16,100, which amounts to $289,800 for an 18-week season. The maximum weekly salary for a practice squad player with more than two accrued seasons in 2023 is $20,600, which amounts to $370,800 for an 18-week season. These salaries are negotiable and can vary depending on the player and the team.

If a practice squad player is elevated to the active roster for a game, he will receive the minimum salary for a player with his level of experience for that week. For example, a rookie practice squad player who is elevated to the active roster for a game in 2023 will receive $39,000 for that week, instead of $12,000. However, if he is reverted back to the practice squad after the game, he will resume his practice squad salary.

Who are the Top 5 Highest Paid NFL Practice Squad Players in 2023?

According to the latest reports, these are the top 5 highest paid NFL practice squad players in 2023, based on their weekly salaries:

1. Jake Browning, QB, Minnesota Vikings – $20,600 per week or $370,800 per season. Browning is a third-year player who was originally signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He has spent most of his time on the practice squad, but was elevated to the active roster for one game in 2020. He has not appeared in a regular-season game yet.
2. Jordan Ta’amu, QB, Kansas City Chiefs – $20,000 per week or $360,000 per season. Ta’amu is a second-year player who was originally signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He was waived by the Texans and claimed by the Chiefs, who added him to their practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for one game in 2020, but did not play. He also played for the St. Louis BattleHawks in the XFL in 2020, where he threw for 1,050 yards and five touchdowns in five games.
3. Joshua Dobbs, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers – $20,000 per week or $360,000 per season. Dobbs is a fifth-year player who was originally drafted by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has played in six regular-season games for the Steelers, completing 6 of 12 passes for 43 yards and an interception. He was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, but was waived by them in 2020 and re-signed by the Steelers to their practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for two games in 2020, but did not play.
4. Josh Rosen, QB, Atlanta Falcons – $20,000 per week or $360,000 per season. Rosen is a fourth-year player who was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has played in 20 regular-season games for the Cardinals and the Miami Dolphins, starting 16 of them. He has thrown for 2,845 yards, 12 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, with a 54.8% completion rate and a 63.5 passer rating. He was traded to the Dolphins in 2019, but was waived by them in 2020. He then signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers, but did not play for either team. He was signed by the Falcons to their practice squad in 2021, and was elevated to the active roster for one game, but did not play.
5. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles – $20,000 per week or $360,000 per season. Hurts is a second-year player who was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has played in five regular-season games for the Eagles, starting four of them. He has thrown for 1,061 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions, with a 52% completion rate and a 77.6 passer rating. He has also rushed for 354 yards and three touchdowns, with a 5.6 yards per carry average. He is currently the backup quarterback behind Joe Flacco, but could see some playing time as a dual-threat option.

Conclusion

The NFL practice squad is a vital part of the league, as it provides opportunities for players to develop their skills, stay in shape, and contribute to their teams. The practice squad players are paid well, but not as much as the active roster players. The practice squad players can also sign with other teams, but only if they are added to the 53-man roster. The practice squad players are mostly young and inexperienced, but some of them are veterans who have played in the league before. The practice squad players are always ready for a chance to play in the NFL, and some of them have become stars in the past.

Most Asked Questions and Answers

Here are some of the most asked questions and answers about the NFL practice squad:

• Q: How many players are on an NFL practice squad?
• A: There are 16 players on an NFL practice squad.
• Q: How much does an NFL practice squad player make per week?
• A: An NFL practice squad player makes between $12,000 and $20,600 per week, depending on his experience and tenure.
• Q: How can an NFL practice squad player join the active roster?
• A: An NFL practice squad player can join the active roster if he is elevated by his team before a game, or if he is signed by another team to its 53-man roster.
• Q: How long can an NFL practice squad player stay on the practice squad?
• A: An NFL practice squad player can stay on the practice squad as long as he is eligible and his contract is not terminated by the team or the player.