As cuts are flying across the NFL, a sort of new free agency period begins this weekend.

Staring Sunday, all 32 teams, including the Houston Texans, can put in waiver claims for the players who were released as teams cut down to the mandatory 53-man roster limit by 3:00 p.m. Central Time Saturday.

Waiver priority works exactly the same way as draft order (except no trading of picks), and is another way that the league helps losing teams from a season ago. Because of the Texans’ 4-12 mark, they are No. 4 in waiver priority with the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and Indianapolis Colts. This means that they have a higher chance to sign quality talent such as undrafted rookie receiver Vyncint Smith back to the practice squad; all he has to do is skate by the Browns, Giants, and Colts.

The same works for talent on other teams. If there were someone on the Philadelphia Eagles that was cut, then the Texans have a good chance to grab that player.

Coach Bill O’Brien indicated the front office in concert with general manager Brian Gaine have a list of guys on other teams they want them to look at.

“I’m not going to get into the details of it, but they have projected lists and they’ve been looking at guys and watching thousands of guys to see what may happen relative to what teams may do,” O’Brien said.

The Texans’ ability to cull the best talent from the waiver wire is goes as far as the knowledge Gaine and director of player personnel Matt Bazirgan have on the other 31 teams.

“That’s where you knowledge of each team is very important,” said O’Brien. “What is that team’s strength? Where are they overloaded at a position relative to where maybe they need somebody at a position, so who might be released from that team that we might want to take a look at?”

If Houston has found someone they like, or want to sign someone to the practice squad from their original 90-man roster, being fourth in line is advantageous.