The Las Vegas Raiders have approached free agency with the mindset of trying to get better or stay the same but in a cheaper way. And, they have largely done that, while also addressing some very pressing needs.
One of those needs, one that they have addressed twice already in free agency by retaining Adam Butler and Zach Carter, is the depth on the defensive line, specifically at the DT spots. They got their depth pass rushers, but they still needed their depth run stuffers.
On Monday, they got one.
Raiders sign DT Leki Fotu
According to Tom Pelissero, the Raiders signed DT Leki Fotu days after meeting with him.`
Leki Fotu has had a decent NFL career as a defensive tackle, using his huge size and ability to stop the run, otherwise known as the plug for a run gap. He first played rugby before switching to football, so, he's pretty athletic and coordinated.
Fotu spent four years with the Arizona Cardinals, playing 58 games and starting 21. In his 2020 rookie season, he appeared in 11 games and got his first sack against Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts. He settled into a role as a dependable backup, hitting a high point in 2023 with 2.5 sacks and 28 tackles in 11 games. He’s not big on chasing quarterbacks but does well against the run, plugging gaps with his bulk. Injuries, like a hand problem in 2023, slowed him at times, though he stayed healthy enough to play every game in 2021 and 2022.
In 2024, Fotu joined the New York Jets to add depth to their line. It didn’t go smoothly—he played only two games, made three tackles, and then hit injured reserve twice (hamstring and knee). The Jets let him go. At 26, the Oakland native gets a new chance with a team needing reserves. With 61 games, 3.5 sacks, and 88 tackles in his career, Fotu’s a stead option for the defense.
And, Patrick Graham gets the run stuffer he needed. Now, they may not be too aggressive for a DT in the 2025 NFL Draft.
