Texans Sign Jaguars Ex Foley Fatukasi To One-Year Deal; Out On Christian Wilkins?

Former Jacksonville star Foley Fatukasi reunites with Matt Burke after signing with the Houston Texans.

The Houston Texans could bring back veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins on a multi-year deal, but they might have his replacement if the asking price is too high.

The Texans are signing former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports. Fatukasi met with the Texans on Wednesday before meeting with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday afternoon following his release.

From the jump, Fatukasi wanted to sign with a franchise before the start of the tampering period on March 11 because of the expanded market. Since he was released, the 29-year-old defender did not need to wait until March 13 to sign with a different franchise.

A sixth-round pick out of UConn in 2018, Fatukasi played for Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke as a member of the New York Jets in 2021. Fatukasi also spent one season in Robert Saleh’s defensive front, which mirrors similar schemes to Texans’ DeMeco Ryans.

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Fatukasi inked a three-year, $30 million contract with the Jaguars in 2022. He was set to make $7 million in the final year of the contract before his release earlier this month.

Last season, Fatukasi had 24 tackles, three tackles for loss and three quarterback hits in 16 games. In 2021, he recorded 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in 14 appearances.

Rankins, a former first-round pick who signed a one-year, $10.5 million deal, was one of several free agents who flourished in Houston while helping the franchise clinch its first division title in four years. Rankins notched 37 tackles, nine tackles for loss, six sacks and 10 QB hits opposite Maliek Collins.

Several sources close to the situation have told TexansDaily.com there's mutual interest on both sides to sign a long-term deal this offseason, though nothing is imminent as of this moment. Houston could have used the franchise tag of Rankins, but it would have cost $22.1 million against the cap.

The Texans remain in play for Rankins, but could also swing big by adding former Miami Dolphins star Christian Wilkins. The former first-round pick has been one of the league's top run defenders and improved each year as a pass-rusher.

There's mutual interest from both sides, but Wilkins also is looking to get paid. He's earned it, too, after totaling a career-high nine sacks to go along with 65 tackles and 23 quarterback hits.

Houston, which currently owns roughly $63 million in cap space, could make Wilkins an offer of around $22-$25 million annually, but the asking price might have gone up after Justin Madubuike and Chris Jones' extensions. The Texans might also want to pivot elsewhere to spending cash, leading to perhaps overpaying Rankins just to guarantee his services.

The Texans aren't done adding defensive line talent, nor should they be. Last season, DeMeco Ryans' biggest impact was made defending the run. Houston finished dead-last back-to-back years in run defense under David Culley and Lovie Smith.

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With Ryans, Houston finished sixth, allowing just two tailbacks to total over 100 yards. Houston's defense ranked 11th in scoring (20.8 points per contest) and 15th in total yards (330.7 yards per game).

The Texans have been linked to several defensive line draft prospects, including Illinois' Johnny Newton, Texas' Byron Murphy and T'Vondre Sweat, Florida State's Braden Fiske and Missouri's Darius Robinson.