The Houston Texans added another piece to their defensive line.
The team and defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi agreed to a one-year deal, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson and confirmed by multiple reporters.
#Texans are signing former #Jaguars defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi to a one-year deal, per a league source @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 10, 2024
It’s unclear what the terms of the agreement are ahead of the unofficial start of free agency on Monday. Fatukasi was able to sign before the unofficial start of free agency because he had been released before the official start of the league year on March. 13
Fatukasi spent the past two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars after he began his career with the New York Jets for four seasons. The 6-foot-4, 318-pound former seventh-round pick out of UConn recorded 24 combined tackles and two quarterback hits this past season. He had 1.5 sacks in 2022.
He joins a shallow group of interior defensive linemen that includes Khalil Davis and Maliek Collins. The Texans have had reported interest in free agent Christian Wilkins as well and could also bring back Sheldon Rankins.
Fatukasi is a solid rotational player for Houston.
Found success in a similar defense under Robert Saleh in New York before taking a massive deal to join the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Worth a swing for DeMeco Ryans at a position where they need bodies to run the scheme effectively. https://t.co/VGkr4HpZuM
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) March 10, 2024
If the pre-free agency news is a sign of things to come, it appears as though the Texans are prioritizing the defense first. Which makes sense – Houston ranked middle of the pack in 2023 but had a lot of room for improvement.
