CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns plan to sign Sam Williams to their active roster, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Tuesday morning. Cleveland has not announced the signing or a corresponding roster move.
The Dallas Cowboys released Williams on Sunday. He was a vested veteran, so he did not pass through waivers, and he reached free agency the same day. Dallas waived 28 players and released 7 to reach the 53-man limit.
Williams re-signed with Dallas on March 9, two days after declaring free agency, on a one-year deal worth $2.5 million. The contract carried $2 million in guarantees.
Those guarantees included a $1.4 million base salary with offset language, ESPN’s Todd Archer reported Tuesday. The Cowboys could be off the hook for most of that figure now that Williams has signed with another team.
Why The Dallas Cowboys Released Sam Williams
Dallas rebuilt the position around him across five months. The Cowboys acquired Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers in March for a 2027 fourth-round pick. They drafted Malachi Lawrence 23rd overall out of UCF in April. On Aug. 17, Von Miller agreed to a one-year contract worth $5.5 million that can reach $7.5 million. Donovan Ezeiruaku went 44th overall in 2025. James Houston and Tyrus Wheat both made the initial 53 at outside linebacker on Sunday.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Monday that the numbers at the position, and not anything Williams failed to do, ended his four seasons in Dallas.
Williams sacked Zach Wilson on third down with 14:02 left in the preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 28, and he forced a punt. Dallas lost that game 27-24 at AT&T Stadium.
Sam Williams’ Four Seasons With The Dallas Cowboys
Dallas selected Williams 56th overall in 2022 from Ole Miss, where he set the school’s single-season sack record with 12.5 in 2021. He stands 6-foot-4, weighs 260 pounds, and posted a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.
During his rookie season, he recorded 4 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 9 quarterback hits over 15 games. He participated in 273 defensive snaps, representing 27% of Dallas’s total, and added 245 snaps on special teams. Voters ranked him fifth in the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Williams appeared in all 17 games the following season. He finished 2023 with 4.5 sacks, 26 tackles, and a safety on 303 defensive snaps.
Dallas placed Williams on injured reserve on Aug. 6, 2024, after he tore his ACL in training camp, and he missed the season. The NFL suspended him for three games on Oct. 28 of that year. The league lifted the suspension on Nov. 11, while he remained on injured reserve.
He played all 17 games last season and made his first 5 starts. His totals were 1 sack, 37 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and 15 pressures on 474 defensive snaps, 43% of the Dallas total. He added 143 snaps on special teams.
In 49 career games, Williams has 9.5 sacks, 85 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, 3 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries.
What The Cleveland Browns Have At Edge Rusher
Cleveland traded Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams on June 1 for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick. Garrett had 23 sacks last season, and he has 125.5 for his career.
Alex Wright ruptured his Achilles tendon on Aug. 20, in a joint practice against the Buffalo Bills. The Browns placed him on injured reserve on Aug. 23, and they signed Derek Barnett the same day to a one-year contract worth up to $5.5 million, terms Fowler also reported. Wright had 5.5 sacks and 37 tackles in 14 games last season. He signed a three-year, $33 million extension in November.
Barnett is entering his 10th NFL season. He has 34 sacks in 112 games with the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans, including 5 last season.
Cleveland listed nine defensive linemen on the initial 53-man roster it announced Sunday. Browns coach Todd Monken is in his first season as a head coach.
The Browns open the regular season at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13 at noon CT on CBS. Dallas opens the same day at the New York Giants at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
