Waiver Wire Opens: Will Levis Unclaimed as Teams Reshape Rosters

The waiver wire opened with a notable surprise: Will Levis, the Titans' onetime starting quarterback, went unclaimed despite being available to any team needing depth at the position. The decision by all 31 other clubs signals that Levis remains a project rather than a proven solution, even as a backup. His lack of takers underscores the gulf between high draft pedigree and on-field readiness.

Roster churn continues. Emari Demercado landed with the Cowboys, one of dozens of moves happening across the league as teams finalize their 53-man rosters and hunt for hidden value. The waiver order, based on draft position and playoff seeding, gives lower-seeded teams first crack at unclaimed players, creating a natural advantage for teams that finished poorly last season.

What's next. The early rounds of waivers typically yield depth contributors and special-teams specialists rather than immediate starters. Teams are looking for insurance—backup running backs, reserve linemen, depth cornerbacks—to cover injuries and fill unexpected gaps. Some players will cycle through waivers multiple times before finding permanent homes on practice squads or reserve lists.

From a betting perspective, waiver moves rarely move the needle on season-long win totals or playoff odds. However, they can occasionally affect health-related injury lines if a team signs someone to replace a departed starter. The Demercado addition gives Dallas another backfield option, but most waiver pickups won't materially shift the competitive balance of their division or conference.

Source: original report ↗