NFL CBA passes: 5 Biggest changes in new deal

The new NFL CBA was approved by the players on Sunday and, while there are a number of changes, these are the five biggest coming in the new deal.

We have a new NFL CBA. On Sunday, the NFL players officially voted to approve the league’s next collective bargaining agreement after the deal was approved by the league owners some time ago.  As noted by the NFL Players Association, it was a tight vote with 1,019 players voting “yes” and 959 voting “no”. But even still, that’s a majority and the CBA now passes.

There was vocal opposition to the new deal from high-profile players like Aaron Rodgers and Richard Sherman, among others. However, the new deal has passed and there are some big changes forthcoming at virtually every level. These are the rule changes that will affect the league from 2020 until 2030.

While there are many changes to note, all of which are highlighted by ESPN’s Dan Graziano, let’s take a look at the five biggest changes coming in the new NFL CBA.

5. Drug policy changes

One of the big topics about the new NFL CBA has been decreased focus on marijuana tests, which is present in the new deal. There will be no more suspensions from positive marijuana tests and the testing period will now be just during the first two weeks of training camp. Furthermore, a positive test will be reviewed to see if whether or not a player should be forced to seek treatment but, again, will not result in a suspension.

Additionally, PED suspensions will be changed. From Graziano:

"A first failed test for stimulants or diuretics will result in a two-game suspension. A first failed test for anabolic steroids will result in a six-game suspension. And “manipulation and or substitution and use of a prohibited substance” will land players an eight-game suspension. A second violation for stimulants and diuretics results in a five-game suspension. A second violation for anabolics results in a 17-game suspension."

Lastly in this avenue, DUI-related suspensions will be increased to three games.

4. More player revenue and increased minimum salaries

A big reason why the new NFL CBA passed is because of increased revenue from the players. Not only will an extra playoff game (more on that coming) generate more revenue under the current CBA but it will also increase from 47 percent to 48 percent of league revenue for the players. That figure could also go higher depending on the league’s new TV deals and how much they increase. Players will also get 70 percent of “any revenue that exceeds projections in any given year” for the Los Angeles Stadium project.

Moreover, as approximately 60 percent of the league plays on minimum-salary deals, the value of those deals will increase by roughly 20 percent. It will rise from $510,000 to $610,000 for players with less than a year of experience in 2020 under the new NFL CBA. For players with a year of experience, the figure goes from $585,000 to $675,000. Those numbers can also increase throughout the duration of the new deal.

3. Expanded gameday rosters

This feels like it hasn’t been discussed enough but could be huge for roster management and players under the new NFL CBA. Active gameday rosters will increase from 46 to 48 players with the new deal (one of the two additional active players must be an offensive lineman). Practice squads will also increase from 10 to 12 players while practice squad wages will also increase.

Sticking with the practice squad, two players from that group can be put on the active roster per week, effectively making the 53-man roster now the 55-man roster. Players can also be elevated from the practice squad and sent back twice without being forced to clear waivers. On the whole, this element allows for more roster flexibility for teams while also giving practice squad players more opportunity to make more money.

2. Two additional playoff teams

There’s no need to really belabor this point as it’s been discussed plenty but one of the immediate effects of the new NFL CBA will be the addition of two playoff teams, expanding the field from 12 to 14 teams. There will be three Wild Card teams in each conference (the Steelers and Rams would’ve made the field this past season) while only one team would get a first-round bye in the postseason.

This will take place in the 2020 season, so it takes effect right away. Furthermore, the team who gets a bye in the first round will be paid during that week of the playoffs. The player pay for playoff appearances will also increase throughout the length of the new deal.

1. 17-game schedule

The still-developing portion of the new NFL CBA is the 17-game schedule that will be the new regular season norm. First, this won’t go into effect until at least the 2021 season, which is when the owners have the opportunity to expand the season by one game. They will have from 2021 to 2023 to implement the new change.

While it’s inevitable that it will take effect eventually, the big hurdles to that happening are the logistics of changing the regular season from 16 to 17 games. They need to figure out how extra home games are determined, will there be additional bye weeks and so on. So it could take effect in 2021 but, if the particulars aren’t figured out, it could be until 2022 or 2023.