After the Jaguars ditched three defensive starters to create cap space earlier this week, one of them is already generating interest on the market. Foley Fatukasi has made two visits since his Jacksonville exit.
The Texans met with the veteran defensive tackle, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, who adds that meeting took place Wednesday. The Bills brought the ex-Jets draftee to town today, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Other teams have expressed interest, per Garafolo, and it appears a deal could come together before the market opens.
Because the Jags released Fatukasi, he is a street free agent and does not need to wait until next week — as unrestricted free agents do — to speak with teams. Fatukasi, whom the Jags cut on his 29th birthday, has been a regular run-stopping presence in New York and Jacksonville. Pro Football Focus did not view the UConn alum as being worth the deal the Jags authorized (three years, $30MM), grading him as one of the league’s worst DTs in 2022 and 60th at the position last year. But teams appear to disagree with this assessment.
A strong run in New York created a good Fatukasi market in 2022. PFF graded the former sixth-round pick as a top-15 interior D-lineman in 2019 and ’20, making him one of the brightest spots during the grim Adam Gase Jets tenure. Viewed as an elite run defender at that point, Fatukasi is now trying to bounce back after the Jags stripped away some of their 2022 free agency pickups.
The Texans have an interesting opportunity, with not much in the way of funds tied up anywhere but along the offensive line and now at tight end — via Dalton Schultz‘s $12MM-per-year deal. DeMeco Ryans‘ defense ranked sixth against the run last season, and while the team has Maliek Collins signed for 2024, it lost pass-rushing DT Sheldon Rankins. The Bills have a bigger need here, with their Ed Oliver supporting cast almost entirely bound for free agency. DTs DaQuan Jones, Tim Settle, Jordan Phillips and Poona Ford are out of contract. The Bills, who were without Jones for much of the season, ranked 15th against the run last year.