The 2026 preseason is done for the Atlanta Falcons. Then came the hard part. Teams had to cut their rosters down to size by Sunday, August 30 at 6 PM ET. That is earlier than usual this year. It left very little time for Atlanta to make tough choices. The pressure was on the coaching staff to get it right.
Now that the cuts are made, the waiver wire opens up. Teams must submit claims for eligible players by 1 PM ET on Monday, August 31. That gives them less than 24 hours after the cutdown deadline to act. Per The Falcoholic, the league will decide who gets the players based on the official waiver order. After that time passes, any unclaimed players become free agents. They can then sign with practice squads or other teams.
Who Gets Waived and Who Does Not
Not every player on the roster faces the same rules. The NFL splits players into two groups for this process. Those with less than four credited seasons must go through waivers. Other teams can claim them before they hit free agency. This is the group that usually creates the most drama.
Players with four or more credited seasons are called vested veterans. They are not subject to waivers at all. Once released, they become free agents immediately. They can sign with whoever they want right away. To earn a credited season, a player must appear on a roster for at least three regular season games. This includes time on the active list, inactive list, or injured reserve.
Where the Falcons Stand
The waiver order determines which team gets first dibs on a released player. The order is based on the previous season’s record, with the worst teams picking first. This is where it gets tricky for Atlanta. The Falcons sit in 13th place on the list.
The order starts with the Las Vegas Raiders, followed by the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. The Atlanta Falcons are listed after the Dallas Cowboys and before the Baltimore Ravens. This low spot means Atlanta likely will not get many high-profile players. They will have to wait for other teams to pass. If a star player gets cut, the Raiders or Jets will grab him first.
This system favors teams that built well last year, not those that struggled. The Falcons have a short window to fix their depth. They need to be ready to pounce on any veteran with four years of experience. Those players will be available instantly.
The real test comes with the young guys. Other teams have a chance to steal the players the Falcons cut. The team needed to hope their best young talent is good enough to stay. The waiver wire is a brutal place. The Falcons must hope their order position does not cost them a key piece.
