Where are the Indianapolis Colts ranked in waiver wire priority following the NFL trade deadline?
With the trade deadline now past us, any player that is released by his team is now subject to the NFL’s waiver system. Previously, it was just players with less than 4 accrued seasons.
Vested veterans will not be able to be released and sign with a new team right away.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 4, 2025
With the NFL trade deadline now behind us, the waiver wire rules have been adjusted, which could impact the Indianapolis Colts.
Prior to the trade deadline, only players with fewer than four accrued NFL seasons would land on waivers. Also, the order was based on the 2025 NFL draft order.
However, from this point moving forward, all players, regardless of their NFL experience, will go on waivers, and the waiver wire order is determined by the current NFL standings.
So with a record of 1-8, the Tennessee Titans currently have the top waiver wire priority in Week 11. With the Colts at 8-2, they are currently 32nd in priority.
In short, how the waiver wire works is if a player is released, any of the other 31 teams can put in a claim on him over a 24-hour period. That player will then go to the team with the highest priority ranking.
For example, if the Colts and Titans both put in a waiver claim on the same player, he would be awarded to Tennessee because they are first in waiver priority, and the Colts are 32nd.
After addressing the cornerback position at the trade deadline by acquiring Sauce Gardner, the Colts don’t have any real glaring roster holes to address.
Potentially, one position group that could still be on GM Chris Ballard’s radar if the right player is released is defensive end or defensive tackle, as the Colts navigate injuries at both spots and look for more pass rush juice.
According to Over the Cap, the Colts have $3.741 million in available salary cap space, which ranks 29th in the NFL.