The Texans managed to open a chunk of cap space today. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the team has released defensive back Brandon Williams and waived defensive back Mark Fields. The move will save the organization around $1.5MM.
Williams was a highly-touted third-round pick out of Texas A&M back in 2016. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Cardinals, including a rookie campaign where he compiled 26 tackles and three passes defended in 13 games (three starts). He appeared in 32 games for Arizona between the 2018 and 2019 seasons, but he was limited to only 12 total tackles. He spent his entire final seasons with the Cardinals sitting on injured reserve.
The 28-year-old caught on with the Giants last offseason, and he spent much of the 2020 campaign jumping on and off their active roster. He compiled one tackle in six games for New York before getting waived one final time in December. He later joined the Texans practice squad, and he was inked to a reserve/future contract following the regular season.
Fields, a former Clemson standout, started the 2020 season with the Vikings, getting into a pair of games. He was cut by Minnesota in December, but he was quickly claimed by the Texans. He saw time in two games for Houston, compiling a single tackle.