The NFLPA has been successful in not only increasing the number of practice squad slots available to NFL teams, but also taking off any limitations meant to give younger (i.e., cheaper) players opportunities. 

It’s not that teams have dumped the idea of growing and improving players. We’re still seeing youth and development prized across the league as 48.6 percent of all members of practice squads are from the 2022 and 2023 draft classes. However, there’s no doubt we’re seeing the PS go from “pool of developmental players” to “old-school taxi squad.” But how much? Here’s what we found out based on the opening-week makeup of all 32 teams’ practice squads.

  • The Giants are carrying a 13-year veteran, RB Taiwan Jones, on their practice squad, but they’re not the only team with a 10-year vet on the PS. The Bengals opened the season with SS Michael Thomas (2012 draft class) and the Rams had PK Brett Maher (2013) on the practice squad. Four teams had members of the 2014 draft class around for practice. Sixteen players with nine years of NFL experience are also on squads around the league.
  • NFL teams may have up to six players on their practice squads with no limitations on experience; they could all be 20-year veterans, and no one can say a word. The Jets are the only team to take full advantage of that provision; they have six players who are entering at least their sixth seasons, respectively, in the league. The Bills, Panthers and Niners each have five such players. The Broncos, Chargers, Dolphins and Eagles have four each. It’s no surprise to see that most of these teams are veteran-heavy on the practice squad — they’re all Super-Bowl-or-bust teams trying to hoard injury replacements — but it’s interesting that the Panthers and Broncos aren’t holding more spots for rising players.
  • By the way, the Cowboys, Packers, Texans, Jaguars and Steelers have just one player with five-plus NFL seasons on their respective practice squads. 
  • Of the 31 NFL teams’ practice squads (we aren’t counting Dallas, which only lists two members of its PS), the Bucs have the youngest at an average draft class of 2021.43, followed closely by the Packers at 2021.41. Rounding out the five youngest are Jaguars, Raiders, Titans and Bears.
  • The Bills have the oldest at 2019.75, with the Panthers just behind at 2019.93. That’s really interesting and, to me, shows that the Panthers see the NFC South as wide open and winnable. The Niners, Rams and Patriots, in order, are the next three oldest.

If you enjoy digging into the numbers to learn how teams develop their strategies, or you want to know more about which teams are best on draft day, make sure to check out today’s Friday Wrap. In it, we look at which teams have the highest percentage of their draft picks still on rosters since 2014; which teams have the most former draftees on 53-man rosters across the league; and which ones have the most former picks that are active, on practice squad, or otherwise stashed on a list somewhere in the league. You can register for it here.