Bills Free Agent Visit: Former Jets Starter Signing With Buffalo?
The Buffalo Bills have multiple openings on the interior of their defensive line, and a former AFC East starter could potentially fill a hole.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi made a scheduled visit to Buffalo on Wednesday. There appears to be multiple suitors for the 29-year-old roadblock, who was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars a few days earlier. Having been cut, Fatukasi is immediately eligible to sign with another NFL team.
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Fatukasi made 30 appearances (29 starts) over the past two years with the Jaguars. Prior to landing in Jacksonville, the 2018 sixth-round draft pick spent four seasons with the New York Jets.
The 318-pound Fatukasi started 15 games for New York in 2021 before cashing in on free agency. The Empire State product, who attended UConn, has established himself as a run stuffer that can take on multiple blocks on the same play. Fatukasi has made 24+ tackles in each of the past five seasons. Over 75 career games, he has accounted for 4.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hits.
Starter Ed Oliver and practice squad fill-in Eli Ankou are currently the Bills' lone defensive tackles under contract. While there seems to be mutual interest in reaching an agreement with free agent DaQuan Jones, Buffalo will undoubtedly add a new face, or two, to the position group this offseason.
Fatukasi provides starting experience up front and may do so at a reasonable price. He secured a three-year deal reportedly worth $30 million from the Jaguars in 2022 but his market value has likely dropped significantly. For some perspective, Jones earned $14.5 million over the two-year contract that expired this offseason.
