The Houston Texans would love to retain defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins after a promising 2023 season, but they also aren’t afraid to explore other options.
On Wednesday, a former AFC South rival visited NRG Stadium and could end up being Rankins’ teammate or perhaps replacement.
According to reports, former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi met with team officials to discuss a potential signing this offseason.
Fatukasi, 30, was recently released from the Jaguars earlier this month. According to KPRC2 in Houston, Fatukasi is expected to meet with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday afternoon.
The hope is that Fatukasi will sign with a franchise in the coming days before the start of the tampering period on March 11. Because of his release, the former Jags’ star does not need to wait until the start of free agency on March 13 to sign with a team, meaning a deal could be finalized in Houston within the coming hours.
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.
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 also elected to no franchise star pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard or linebacker Blake Cashman, making both free agents later this month.
Even if Rankins and Fatukasi were to sign, the Texans can't afford to see regression in their trench play. Houston's run defense was one of the major turnarounds in Year 1 under Ryans, largely due to the newcomers added to the roster.
After finishing dead last in run defense and yards after contact back-to-back years under David Culley and Lovie Smith, the Texans finished sixth, holding opponents to 96.6 yards per contest.
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.
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