The Chiefs and Texans have both expressed early interest in pending free agent defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com.
While there’s been no word as to whether the Panthers are interested in re-signing Lotulelei, Carolina is already heavily invested at the defensive tackle position. Kawann Short is the NFL’s third-highest-paid defensive tackle with a $16.1MM annual salary, while the Panthers used a first-round pick on Vernon Butler in 2016. Veteran Kyle Love is also under contract for the 2018 campaign.
Although he’s a former first-round pick, Lotulelei’s performance has slipped in every season since he entered the league in 2013. Last year, the 28-year-old appeared in all 16 games for the second consecutive season but managed only six tackles while grading as a bottom-15 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus.
Kansas City and Houston, meanwhile, can use all the defensive line help they can get, as both clubs ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in Football Outsiders‘ adjusted sack rate (the Chiefs were a bottom-10 team in adjusted line yards, as well). Lotulelei could serve as a reinforcement if the Chiefs aren’t able to re-sign Bennie Logan, while joining either KC or Houston would entail Lotulelei playing in a 3-4 scheme for the first time in his career.
Obligatory “Patriots should sign him.” comment.
All u pat fan think there going to sign everyone