The short version: on waivers, teams claim a player and inherit his existing contract, with the order of priority set by the league. In free agency, the player chooses where to sign and negotiates a new contract. One is the team’s decision, the other is the player’s.
| Waivers | Free agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides | Claiming team | Player |
| Contract | Existing deal carries over | New deal negotiated |
| Priority | League waiver order | Whoever the player picks |
| Can the player refuse | No | Yes, any offer |
How Waivers Work
A released player who is subject to waivers sits on the wire for a set window. Any team can claim him. If several do, the team highest in the waiver order wins, and that order runs roughly worst record first, so struggling teams get the first shot. If nobody claims him, he clears waivers and becomes a free agent.
How Free Agency Works
A free agent is under contract with no one. He can take visits, weigh offers and sign with whichever team he likes. Unrestricted free agents in the offseason are the famous version, but any player who clears waivers, or any vested veteran released before the trade deadline, is also simply a free agent.
Where Vested Veterans Fit
Players with four or more accrued seasons are exempt from waivers if they are released before the trade deadline. They go straight to free agency. After the deadline, they are subject to waivers like everyone else.
More on NFL Roster Rules
Can a player refuse a waiver claim · How NFL waivers work · NFL waiver order · NFL practice squad