What is the minimum number of players one can have?

I think I'll be able to pay for all my Draftees (11) after I have managed to rework a few contracts... but this team has a huge cap burnt and only 32 players, so I'll have 43 players. I'll go over all contracts to try to get some more cap dollars... but wont be much.

I believe the minimum is 46

Ah well, then I do need to trade for more last round draft. Or, trade one or two good players (If I have any interesting) for 3-4 weak guys people would cut anyway after training.

45 players minimum on game day

I think you want the 46 though, I seem to remember Smirt saying something about the sim engine messing with you if you only have 45 active. I could be wrong though, I always have 53 so I've never tested the theory.

45 and AI won't cut your rookies even you have negative cap

I'm not sure how to play it any more. I've made choices recently to go 46 when 45 would have aided me more with injuries. I know way back 45 would be ok and play straight. But that was a long time ago and JDB has changed the engine a lot. 45 is in red and I don't/didn't want to push it.

Basically, I try to give the engine no excuse to screw with my game plan. I haven't seen official word on 45 for a very long time....like v4.3 old, therefore, I'd avoid the red font at all costs.