How much do NFL practice squad players make a year? Salary and contract details

With the end of NFL preseason and the countdown to week 1 action of the 2024-25 campaign, NFL teams are in the process of fine tuning which players will make the 53 man rosters.

As of 4pm ET today, all NFL teams need to confirm their 53-man rosters (cutting back from 90 players) and this deadline means that there will be a flurry of activity as teams make their final decisions, and many players will be placed on waivers or signed to practice squads.

For those players failing to make the cut, they will continue to participate with the 17 man practice squads and will be looking to impress should a future opportunity arise.

NFL practice squad salaries

Rookie practice players can earn anything from a basic average of €12,000 per week with the top scale available at around $21,000 (weekly) based on longevity with the team in question.

Other NFL teams can sign other teams’ practice squad players if they are being signed to the 53-man roster but practice players are not allowed to sign onto another team’s practice squad unless they are officially released.

Practice squad players have the incentive of impressing too as they are eligible to play in games, but must be added to a teams game day roster. NFL teams can elevate practice squad players for on game days to increase their roster to 55 players, but only 48 players can participate in a game. That means seven players must be declared inactive.