Report: Jaguars Set to Release Foley Fatukasi
The Jacksonville Jaguars have made their first cut of the offseason.
According to multiple reports, the Jaguars are set to release veteran defensive lineman Foley Fatukasi, who they signed to a three-year, $30 million deal with $20 million in guaranteed money in 2022.
Releasing Fatukasi saves the Jaguars $3.5 million in cap space, though the Jaguars will eat $9,233,334 in dead cap.
Fatukasi's dead cap number would be just outside the top-10 in terms of cap hits facing the Jaguars in 2024. Fatukasi was originally set to cost $12,808,334 in 2024, which would have been the fifth-highest cap hit on the Jaguars' roster.
Fatukasi battled through injuries throughout his two years in Jacksonville, though he still played in 30 games out of a possible 34, starting 29 in the process. He also appeared in both playoff games in 2022.
Fatukasi played in 14 games in 2022, starting 13. He ended the year with 24 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits.
In 2023, Fatukasi started 16 games and recorded 24 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits.
The Jaguars projected Fatukasi to improve as a pass-rusher after signing him away from the New York Jets, though he recorded 1.5 sacks and five quarterback hits in two seasons with the Jaguars.
"I think real important. I think real important. Again, after going through the process and the coaching staff in the personnel staff, looking at a run stopper -- and he's more than a run-stopper, he can play on third down, he can push the pocket and he's done that," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said after the Jaguars signed Fatukasi.
"But getting a guy in there like him, our defensive staff really felt he was the number one guy and we made every effort to get him here."
