For leagues that draft late (for example a day or two before the NFL kickoff game) but also want to keep the option for undrafted players to go on waivers post-draft, players that will be involved in a game prior to the 1st Sunday (e.g.: potentially Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday), should only go on waivers for the night or nights until the day of their first game and then become free agents. This allows players to be on waivers so that everyone has a fair shot to bid on them, but also allows them to clear waivers and join a team prior to playing in the game.

Examples (assuming league will kickoff on Wednesdays going forward, like for 2026, as well as there being Thursday and Friday opening week games - to give a worst case scenario:

-The league drafts the last Monday before the NFL season starts. All undrafted players go on waivers. All players besides those playing Wednesday/Thursday/Friday clear waivers Saturday. All players playing Wednesday clear waivers Wednesday morning. All players playing Thursday clear waivers Thursday morning. All players playing Friday clear waivers Friday morning.

-The league drafts the last Monday before the NFL season starts. All undrafted players go on waivers. All players besides those playing Wednesday/Thursday clear waivers Friday. All players playing Wednesday clear waivers Wednesday morning. All players playing Thursday clear waivers Thursday morning.

-The league drafts the last Sunday before the NFL season starts. All undrafted players go on waivers. All players besides those playing Wednesday clear waivers Thursday. All players playing Wednesday clear waivers Wednesday morning.