Here are the rules for, where Cowboys sit are in waiver wire order
There’s a big difference in being waived or released. As the 32 NFL clubs whittled their way down to 53 players, the two terms are often bandied about, but not everyone knows the difference between the two. A player who has been in the league for a minimum of four seasons is considered a vested veteran. That player has to be released. He is immediately eligible to negotiate a contract and sign with any team that is interested in him.
On the other side of that coin is a player who has not yet accrued that many seasons. When a team cuts a non-vested veteran, they are waived. That means that his contract is still intact for the next 24 hours, with a deadline for teams to put in claims on that contract. This happens every day of the league year, and for 2022 the first waiver claims will be honored at 11:00 a.m. Central on Wednesday, August 31.
The order of the waiver claim is static for the first four weeks of the season, mirroring the original order of the 2022 NFL draft. Slots for picks traded away revert to the original team, obviously. For Dallas that means they sit No. 24 in waiver order.
If a player clears waivers — their contract isn’t selected by another team — then that player is free to negotiate a deal with anyone, including returning to the original team (or any team) on their practice squad. This is clearly what Dallas hopes happens to their young guys, but it isn’t completely up to them.
Here’s a look at the waiver order for 2022’s first few weeks.
1 Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14)
Jan 28, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA; A view of the helmet of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (20) on the sidelines against the NFC in the 2018 NFL Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
2 Detroit Lions (3-13-1)
Dec 20, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of a Detroit Lions helmet on the bench before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
3 Houston Texans (4-13)
Jan 12, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Houston Texans helmet during the AFC Divisional Round playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
4 New York Jets (4-13)
Aug 15, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Jets helmet on the sideline against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
5 New York Giants (4-13)
Nov 24, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; A detailed view of the New York Giants helmet during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
6 Carolina Panthers (5-12)
Nov 10, 2019; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Carolina Panthers helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
7 Chicago Bears (6-11)
Oct 14, 2018; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A Chicago Bears helmet and gloves sit on the field prior to the game between the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
8 Atlanta Falcons (7-10)
Nov 22, 2018; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons helmets on the bench during their game against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
9 Denver Broncos (7-10)
Oct 28, 2018; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Denver Broncos helmet during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
10 Seattle Seahawks (7-10)
Dec 10, 2018; Seattle, WA, USA; Detailed view of Seattle Seahawks helmet on the field during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
11 Washington Commanders (7-10)
Aug 19, 2020; Ashburn, Virginia, USA; A view of decals on the back of the helmet of Washington Football Team tight end Marcus Baugh (not pictured) on day twenty-two of training camp at Inova Sports Performance Center in Ashburn, Virginia. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
12 Minnesota Vikings (8-9)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 22: A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the field during the pregame warm up against the Oakland Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Oakland Raiders 34-14.(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
13 Cleveland Browns (8-9)
Oct 2, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Detail view of Cleveland Browns helmet against the Washington Redskins during the second half at FedEx Field. Washington Redskins wins 31 – 20. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
14 Baltimore Ravens (8-9)
Dec 9, 2018; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Baltimore Ravens helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
15 Miami Dolphins (9-8)
Nov 3, 2019; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Mark Walton (22) helmet is seen before a game against the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
16 Indianapolis Colts pick (9-8)
Jun 7, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts lay their helmets on the field as they stretch during mini camp at the Indiana Farm Bureau Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
17 Los Angeles Chargers (9-8)
Oct 20, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Los Angeles Chargers helmet on the sideline during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
18 New Orleans Saints (9-8)
Aug 23, 2018; Costa Mesa, CA, USA: Detailed view of New Orleans Saints helmets during joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Jack. R. Hammett Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
19 Philadelphia Eagles (9-8)
Sep 26, 2019; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Philadelphia Eagles helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
20 Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1)
ARLINGTON, TX – FEBRUARY 06: A Pittsburgh Steelers helmet sit in the endzone before the Steelers take on the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
21 New England Patriots (10-7)
Aug 24, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A New England Patriots helmet lays on the sidelines in the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
22 Las Vegas Raiders (10-7)
Dec 26, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; A Las Vegas Raiders helmet rest on the football field before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
23 Arizona Cardinals (11-6)
KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 11: An Arizona Cardinals helmet sits on the sidelines during the second half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
24 Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Dallas Cowboys helmet before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
25 Buffalo Bills (11-6)
Nov 3, 2019; Orchard Park, NY, USA; General view of a Buffalo Bills helmet on the field prior to the game against the Washington Redskins at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
26 Tennessee Titans (12-5)
Oct 3, 2021; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Tennessee Titans helmets rest on the field before the game between the New York Jets and the Titans at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13.4)
Oct 25, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Detailed view of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
28 Green Bay Packers (13-4)
Sep 20, 2021; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A Green Bay Packers helmet rests on the sidelines during warmups prior to the game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
29 San Francisco (10-7)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 29: A San Francisco 49ers helmet is displayed prior to a press conference with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for Super Bowl LIV at the Hilton Miami Downtown on January 29, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the 54th playing of the Super Bowl, Sunday February 2nd. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
30 Kansas City Chiefs (12-5)
Jan 12, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet during the AFC Divisional Round playoff football game against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
31 Cincinnati Bengals (10-7)
Oct 29, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of a Bengals helmet on the sidelines in the game of the Indianapolis Colts against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
32 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 04: A close up of the St. Louis Rams helmet at Candlestick Park on December 4, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
