Jets agree to one-year deal with former Cardinals DT Leki Fotu

Leki Fotu is heading to New York. The Jets are expected to sign the former Cardinals defensive tackle, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

It’s a one-year deal worth $2.5M, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The deal can hit $4M via incentives and/or bonuses.

With Quinton Jefferson, Solomon Thomas and Al Woods all hitting free agency, the Jets have been hunting for some reinforcement at defensive tackle. The team already agreed to a deal with former 49ers defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, and now they’re adding another former NFC West option.

Fotu was a fourth-round pick by the Cardinals in 2020 and had spent his entire career in Arizona. He started only 21 of his 56 appearances with the organization but was consistently playing around 40% percent of his team’s defensive snaps. 

He started nine of his 11 appearances in 2023, finishing with 28 tackles and a career-high 2.5 sacks.

As ESPN’s Rich Cimini passes along, Fotu had a run-stop percentage of 6.7% last season, which ranked 22nd among 117 defensive tackles. That number would have ranked second on the Jets behind Quinnen Williams, the team’s lone holdover at the position.