Report: Texans Set to Sign Former Jaguars DT Foley Fatukasi
Former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi isn't going very far after his Jaguars tenure ended.
According to KPRC2's Aaron Wilson, the former Jaguar is signing with the Houston Texans on a one-year deal. As a result, the Jaguars will see Fatukasi twice next season.
This could also mean the Texans won't re-sign Sheldon Rankins, who could be a potential Jaguars target due to his ties with defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen.
The Jaguars officially released Fatukasi earlier this week, two years after signing him to a three-year contract. Since Fatukasi was released and was not a free agent whose contract expired, he will not be eligible to land the Jaguars a compensatory draft pick if he signs with a different team.
Releasing Fatukasi saved the Jaguars $3.5 million in cap space, though the Jaguars will eat $9,233,334 in dead cap. The Jaguars will now be looking to use the cap savings from the Fatukasi release as funds for Josh Allen's franchise tag, Ezra Cleveland's new deal, and other moves.
Fatukasi's dead cap number would have been 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.
