Everyone Knows NFL Players Make a Lot of Money, But What About the Practice Squad? (2024)

It's possible for NFL players like Aaron Rodgers to make up to $50,000,000 per season. But the lowest NFL salary is still a substantial sum at $705,000 per season (and you do less work too; sitting on the bench is a cushy job). Even the lowest-paid NFL players make a lot of money, so, how is the deal for practice squad players? Without them, the teams they spend so much money on would waste away. Unfortunately for them, while the squads as a whole are valuable, the individuals comprising them are replaceable.

Each member of the practice squad makes a minimum of $8,400 each week during the season. Unlike players, though, the practice squad does not have contracts. That means that teams can mix and match to get more appropriate practice if they feel like it. If a practice squad member gets cut from the team, that's that unless they get picked up by another team. That means players stand to make $150,000 per year as long as they stay with a team the whole time. Also, $8400 per week is the minimum so it's possible to make way more.

Nothing is stopping a team from signing away a practice squad member to another team's active roster, either. That is certainly the goal for most practice squad players. Living with financial uncertainty from week to week is stressful. Practice squad players can be placed on the active roster for a game four times before they have to be signed onto the 53-player team. They're also fair game for other teams to try and approach with signing deals. However, rules prevent rival teams from poaching each other's practice squad.

It's a tough life, but the pay is good week to week and there's potential to move on up. The guys in the practice squad don't get recognition. But they worked their whole lives to be as good as they are. The draft system isn't perfect. A lot of amazing players slip through the cracks.