Arizona Cardinals Hold No. 3 Waiver Priority: Why Their Roster Could Look Different Before Week 1

With the preseason schedule wrapped up in Green Bay, Arizona must trim its roster to the league-mandated 53 players while also evaluating whether there are opportunities to strengthen the squad through the waiver wire.

The Cardinals could be particularly well positioned to add talent, holding the No. 3 waiver priority entering the opening three weeks of the regular season.

Cardinals Have a Major Waiver Wire Advantage

The waiver order for the first three weeks of the season is determined by the original 2026 NFL Draft order, rather than the standings or trades made during the offseason.

That places Arizona behind only the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets in the priority sequence.

The position gives general manager Monti Ossenfort and the Cardinals' front office an opportunity to react quickly when other teams make their final cuts.

How the NFL Waiver Wire Works

The waiver system primarily applies to players with fewer than four accrued NFL seasons who are released by their teams.

If another team submits a successful claim, it assumes the player's existing contract and must place him on its active 53-man roster.

Players who clear waivers without being claimed become free agents and can then negotiate with any team, including returning to their former club's practice squad.

That distinction is important for Arizona as the Cardinals assess players released around the league. A waiver claim requires an immediate commitment to the player's roster spot, while an unclaimed player can be pursued later as a free agent.

Why No. 3 Could Matter for Arizona

The Cardinals' priority means they will have the chance to select players before 29 other teams if multiple clubs place players on waivers.

That could become especially valuable as teams around the league make difficult decisions to reach their 53-man limits.

Arizona does not necessarily need to target a particular position. Instead, the front office can monitor the cuts and identify players who could improve depth or potentially develop into longer-term contributors.

The Full Waiver Order

Arizona's position behind the Raiders and Jets gives the Cardinals a significant advantage during the opening weeks of the season.

The full order is:

1. Las Vegas Raiders

2. New York Jets

3. Arizona Cardinals

4. Tennessee Titans

5. New York Giants

6. Cleveland Browns

7. Washington Commanders

8. New Orleans Saints

9. Kansas City Chiefs

10. Cincinnati Bengals

11. Miami Dolphins

12. Dallas Cowboys

13. Atlanta Falcons

14. Baltimore Ravens

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

16. Indianapolis Colts

17. Detroit Lions

18. Minnesota Vikings

19. Carolina Panthers

20. Green Bay Packers

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

22. Los Angeles Chargers

23. Philadelphia Eagles

24. Jacksonville Jaguars

25. Chicago Bears

26. Buffalo Bills

27. San Francisco 49ers

28. Houston Texans

29. Los Angeles Rams

30. Denver Broncos

31. New England Patriots

32. Seattle Seahawks

What Comes Next for the Cardinals?

Arizona's immediate priority remains getting its own roster down to 53 players before the regular season begins.

However, the front office will simultaneously be monitoring the players released by other teams.

With the third waiver claim, the Cardinals are in an excellent position to act if a player they like becomes available.

The first few weeks of the season could therefore bring further changes to Arizona's roster as the team looks beyond its preseason group and searches for players who can contribute immediately—or develop into pieces of the Cardinals' future.