3 big changes the new CBA will bring to the NFL

NFL players have approved a new collective bargaining agreement that will reshape the game for years to come.

After a late Saturday night vote, NFL players approved the new collective bargaining agreement that was negotiated between the NFL and the NFL Players Association. With a final vote of 1,019 to 959, the CBA will be in effect until the end of the 2030 season.

With the proposed CBA ratified, players, NFL stakeholders, and fans can expect to see a very different field over the next 10 — 11 if you count changes that will go into effect in 2020 — years. While there are still some details that need to be fine-tuned, here are the main changes to make note of for viewers:

1.  17-game season

Extending the NFL season is not a new topic of conversation, with reports of negotiations for an 18-game season at one point. It seems that the magic number that stakeholders agreed on was 17, with the number of regular-season games increasing from 256 to 272.

To make it work, there were also implications on the preseason schedule as well. Under the new deals, the number of preseason games will decrease from four to three — with no team allowed to play no more than 20 games total combined.

2. Expanded rosters

Roster changes will be two-fold, with increases both on and off the field. On game day, the active roster will go from 46 to 48 players. The only rule here is that one of the extra players must be an offensive lineman.

The practice squad tally will go from 10 to 12 players starting this upcoming season. Each week two practice squad players can be called up, meaning clubs can have an active roster up from 53 to 55. This is only a temporary increase, as the player(s) must be once again listed on the practice squad within one business day.

Starting in 2022, the practice squad will be extended even further to 14 players.

3. Expanded playoffs

Something to look forward to starting in 2020 is additional playoff teams. Instead of six AFC teams and six NFC teams for a total of 12 playoff teams, expect to see seven of each.

This translates to six playoff games on Wild Card Weekend instead of four, with only the top seeds in each conference receiving a bye that week. That means each two seed is up against the seventh seed in their respective conference.