Every year during the first week of the season I like to break down the various rosters in the NFL in a few different ways. Because some extensions came in late in the week I’ll hold off on doing some of the financial breakdowns until next week, but here are a few ways in which we can look at how teams have been built this year in the NFL (practice squad not included).
Homegrown talent
I define homegrown talent as a player who was either drafted by or originally signed as a UDFA by the team that the player currently plays on. On average 61% of a team’s roster comes from their own draft process with the rest coming from free agency, trades, waiver claims, etc…Having a high number of homegrown players does not mean that a team has necessarily drafted well but it does give insight into how they are attempting to build and develop their current roster. The teams with the largest percentage of homegrown players are the Cowboys (80%), Rams (79.6%), and Buccaneers (72.7%). On the bottom are the Cardinals (44.4%), Panthers (45.6%), and Raiders (46.6%).
| Team | Homegrown | Outside |
| Cowboys | 80.0% | 20.0% |
| Rams | 79.6% | 20.4% |
| Buccaneers | 72.7% | 27.3% |
| Ravens | 71.7% | 28.3% |
| Packers | 71.4% | 28.6% |
| Titans | 70.7% | 29.3% |
| 49ers | 68.4% | 31.6% |
| Chargers | 68.4% | 31.6% |
| Bengals | 67.2% | 32.8% |
| Chiefs | 67.2% | 32.8% |
| Vikings | 67.2% | 32.8% |
| Colts | 66.7% | 33.3% |
| Commanders | 66.2% | 33.8% |
| Seahawks | 65.6% | 34.4% |
| Jaguars | 63.9% | 36.1% |
| Eagles | 62.7% | 37.3% |
| Saints | 61.4% | 38.6% |
| Patriots | 58.7% | 41.3% |
| Lions | 58.6% | 41.4% |
| Bills | 57.6% | 42.4% |
| Broncos | 56.5% | 43.5% |
| Browns | 56.5% | 43.5% |
| Giants | 55.0% | 45.0% |
| Falcons | 52.5% | 47.5% |
| Bears | 51.8% | 48.2% |
| Jets | 50.8% | 49.2% |
| Dolphins | 49.2% | 50.8% |
| Steelers | 49.1% | 50.9% |
| Texans | 48.4% | 51.6% |
| Raiders | 46.6% | 53.4% |
| Panthers | 45.6% | 54.4% |
| Cardinals | 44.4% | 55.6% |
Rosters by Draft Round
Not surprisingly UDFA’s make up the largest percentage of players in the NFL with about a quarter of the league having begun their career as an undrafted player. They are followed by 1st round draft picks who make up 14% of the league. The only other interesting observation is that 3rd round picks make up more of the NFL than 2nd round picks and that is something that is consistent year to year.
| Round | % of Players |
| UDFA | 24.9% |
| 1 | 14.1% |
| 3 | 13.2% |
| 2 | 12.4% |
| 4 | 10.5% |
| 5 | 10.1% |
| 6 | 8.6% |
| 7 | 6.0% |
There are six teams with over 30% of their roster having started as UDFA. The cap ravaged Titans lead the NFL with 39.7% of their team having begun their career as a UDFA. The Raiders, Panthers, Bucs, Broncos and Cardinals are the other teams over 30%.The Browns and Giants are the two teams at no more than 15%.
The Ravens, Cowboys, Jets, and Eagles are all over 20% when it comes to first round picks making up the roster. The Rams who mortgaged their future via trades have just 3.7% of their roster coming from former 1st round players. The Broncos, Bengals, Bears, Colts and Cardinals are the other teams under 10%. Here is the breakdown across the NFL.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | UDFA |
| Ravens | 23.3% | 11.7% | 15.0% | 18.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 21.7% |
| Cowboys | 21.7% | 10.0% | 16.7% | 11.7% | 6.7% | 8.3% | 3.3% | 21.7% |
| Jets | 20.6% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 12.7% | 19.0% | 11.1% | 3.2% | 17.5% |
| Eagles | 20.3% | 16.9% | 8.5% | 11.9% | 5.1% | 13.6% | 5.1% | 18.6% |
| Giants | 18.3% | 15.0% | 11.7% | 8.3% | 13.3% | 11.7% | 6.7% | 15.0% |
| Falcons | 18.0% | 11.5% | 9.8% | 8.2% | 13.1% | 4.9% | 8.2% | 26.2% |
| Saints | 17.5% | 15.8% | 21.1% | 10.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1.8% | 26.3% |
| Lions | 17.2% | 6.9% | 22.4% | 10.3% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 1.7% | 27.6% |
| Bills | 16.9% | 11.9% | 10.2% | 6.8% | 18.6% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 22.0% |
| Jaguars | 16.4% | 11.5% | 11.5% | 9.8% | 8.2% | 11.5% | 6.6% | 24.6% |
| Packers | 16.1% | 12.5% | 7.1% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 12.5% | 7.1% | 23.2% |
| Chargers | 15.8% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 7.0% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 5.3% | 29.8% |
| Steelers | 15.8% | 12.3% | 19.3% | 12.3% | 7.0% | 5.3% | 8.8% | 19.3% |
| Dolphins | 15.3% | 15.3% | 11.9% | 3.4% | 6.8% | 11.9% | 6.8% | 28.8% |
| Texans | 14.5% | 9.7% | 17.7% | 11.3% | 8.1% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 29.0% |
| Panthers | 14.0% | 21.1% | 8.8% | 7.0% | 3.5% | 8.8% | 1.8% | 35.1% |
| 49ers | 14.0% | 7.0% | 15.8% | 7.0% | 15.8% | 14.0% | 8.8% | 17.5% |
| Vikings | 13.8% | 8.6% | 15.5% | 15.5% | 6.9% | 10.3% | 3.4% | 25.9% |
| Browns | 12.9% | 12.9% | 17.7% | 9.7% | 14.5% | 11.3% | 6.5% | 14.5% |
| Buccaneers | 12.7% | 12.7% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 7.3% | 10.9% | 0.0% | 34.5% |
| Titans | 12.1% | 12.1% | 12.1% | 10.3% | 6.9% | 5.2% | 1.7% | 39.7% |
| Chiefs | 12.1% | 15.5% | 15.5% | 10.3% | 12.1% | 5.2% | 12.1% | 17.2% |
| Seahawks | 11.5% | 21.3% | 6.6% | 14.8% | 11.5% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 26.2% |
| Patriots | 11.1% | 15.9% | 7.9% | 12.7% | 12.7% | 11.1% | 7.9% | 20.6% |
| Commanders | 10.8% | 6.2% | 13.8% | 9.2% | 10.8% | 6.2% | 15.4% | 27.7% |
| Raiders | 10.3% | 8.6% | 13.8% | 8.6% | 10.3% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 37.9% |
| Cardinals | 9.5% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 14.3% | 6.3% | 11.1% | 7.9% | 31.7% |
| Colts | 9.5% | 12.7% | 9.5% | 7.9% | 15.9% | 7.9% | 11.1% | 25.4% |
| Bears | 8.9% | 17.9% | 14.3% | 8.9% | 17.9% | 7.1% | 5.4% | 19.6% |
| Bengals | 8.6% | 19.0% | 17.2% | 10.3% | 8.6% | 10.3% | 5.2% | 20.7% |
| Broncos | 8.1% | 9.7% | 17.7% | 11.3% | 8.1% | 6.5% | 4.8% | 33.9% |
| Rams | 3.7% | 9.3% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 13.0% | 14.8% | 11.1% | 18.5% |
Rosters by Experience
The NFL is certainly a young man’s league. About 56% of the NFL is still in their “rookie” seasons with 33% of the league being either rookies or 2nd year players. Young veterans make up 21% of the NFL and just 7.3% of the NFL is starting their 10th or later season.
| Exp. Level | % of Players |
| 2 to 3 Years | 22.5% |
| 4 to 5 Years | 21.0% |
| Rookies | 17.2% |
| 6 to 8 Years | 16.0% |
| 1 Year | 16.0% |
| 9+ Years | 7.3% |
The heaviest reliance on rookies in 2023 will be the Rams, who have about 28% of their roster made up of rookies. The Packers are next at 27% followed by the Seahawks at 26%. The Bills have the fewest rookies at 6.8%. The Dolphins have the second least at 10.2%.
Teams that have the most players with just 1 year of experience are the Titans at 24%, Chiefs at 22% and Packers, Bears, and Chargers all right around 21%. This is often when we get a big jump in performance from young players so this is something you can look for with these teams. Miami and Jacksonville are the two teams under 10%.
The teams with the most experienced players are the Ravens, Jets, Saints, and Raiders with the Colts and Bengals have no players entering at least their 10th season in the NFL.
Here is the breakdown of each team in the NFL.
| Team | Rookies | 1 Year | 2 to 3 Years | 4 to 5 Years | 6 to 8 Years | 9+ Years |
| Dolphins | 10.2% | 8.5% | 23.7% | 37.3% | 16.9% | 3.4% |
| Raiders | 17.2% | 12.1% | 15.5% | 32.8% | 10.3% | 12.1% |
| Bills | 6.8% | 15.3% | 18.6% | 30.5% | 18.6% | 10.2% |
| 49ers | 15.8% | 15.8% | 19.3% | 28.1% | 14.0% | 7.0% |
| Bengals | 17.2% | 12.1% | 27.6% | 27.6% | 15.5% | 0.0% |
| Buccaneers | 23.6% | 16.4% | 18.2% | 27.3% | 3.6% | 10.9% |
| Falcons | 11.5% | 16.4% | 23.0% | 26.2% | 16.4% | 6.6% |
| Cardinals | 22.2% | 11.1% | 17.5% | 25.4% | 17.5% | 6.3% |
| Steelers | 14.0% | 14.0% | 17.5% | 24.6% | 22.8% | 7.0% |
| Seahawks | 26.2% | 18.0% | 18.0% | 23.0% | 9.8% | 4.9% |
| Panthers | 15.8% | 10.5% | 28.1% | 22.8% | 14.0% | 8.8% |
| Lions | 15.5% | 12.1% | 24.1% | 22.4% | 22.4% | 3.4% |
| Colts | 20.6% | 20.6% | 20.6% | 22.2% | 15.9% | 0.0% |
| Commanders | 12.3% | 20.0% | 27.7% | 21.5% | 10.8% | 7.7% |
| Saints | 15.8% | 10.5% | 19.3% | 21.1% | 21.1% | 12.3% |
| Browns | 16.1% | 12.9% | 24.2% | 21.0% | 16.1% | 9.7% |
| Vikings | 17.2% | 19.0% | 22.4% | 20.7% | 13.8% | 6.9% |
| Eagles | 13.6% | 13.6% | 28.8% | 20.3% | 15.3% | 8.5% |
| Chiefs | 17.2% | 22.4% | 24.1% | 19.0% | 10.3% | 6.9% |
| Jaguars | 19.7% | 9.8% | 29.5% | 18.0% | 19.7% | 3.3% |
| Packers | 26.8% | 21.4% | 19.6% | 17.9% | 12.5% | 1.8% |
| Giants | 13.3% | 16.7% | 30.0% | 16.7% | 18.3% | 5.0% |
| Ravens | 11.7% | 16.7% | 25.0% | 16.7% | 16.7% | 13.3% |
| Texans | 21.0% | 16.1% | 12.9% | 16.1% | 25.8% | 8.1% |
| Broncos | 14.5% | 17.7% | 22.6% | 16.1% | 19.4% | 9.7% |
| Bears | 17.9% | 21.4% | 19.6% | 16.1% | 19.6% | 5.4% |
| Chargers | 15.8% | 21.1% | 24.6% | 15.8% | 14.0% | 8.8% |
| Titans | 20.7% | 24.1% | 20.7% | 15.5% | 8.6% | 10.3% |
| Jets | 14.3% | 14.3% | 23.8% | 14.3% | 20.6% | 12.7% |
| Cowboys | 21.7% | 20.0% | 23.3% | 13.3% | 10.0% | 11.7% |
| Patriots | 19.0% | 14.3% | 17.5% | 12.7% | 28.6% | 7.9% |
| Rams | 27.8% | 16.7% | 31.5% | 9.3% | 11.1% | 3.7% |