The New York Giants have signed defensive tackle Leki Fotu to a one‑year contract, the team announced on Friday. Fotu, 27, joins the Giants after a season in which he split time between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Houston Texans, appearing in eight games and recording 11 tackles and a sack.
Fotu entered the NFL as a fourth‑round selection of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2020 draft. He spent four seasons with Arizona, contributing as a rotational defensive lineman before signing with the New York Jets for the 2024 campaign. After being released by the Jets, he signed with the Raiders, where he played six games, and later joined the Texans for two contests.
Over the course of his six‑year career, Fotu has appeared in 66 regular‑season games, starting 26 of them. His career statistics include 103 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, three pass break‑ups and one forced fumble. Primarily employed as a run‑stopper in the interior line, he has been praised for his size, strength and ability to occupy multiple blockers, traits that align with the Giants’ recent emphasis on bolstering the defensive front.
The one‑year deal reflects New York’s strategy of adding depth and competition on the defensive line ahead of the upcoming season. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale indicated that the addition of a versatile interior lineman like Fotu provides flexibility in both base and sub‑package formations. Fotu’s experience across multiple defensive schemes should aid his integration into the Giants’ system, which expects interior tackles to maintain gap integrity and generate interior pressure.
While the contract terms have not been disclosed, the short‑term nature of the agreement suggests that the Giants view Fotu as a low‑risk, potentially high‑reward acquisition. Should he secure a regular‑starting role or become a key rotational piece, the team could consider extending his tenure beyond the current season.
Fotu’s signing adds to a series of recent roster moves by the Giants aimed at reinforcing a defensive line that ranked near the bottom of the league in run defense last year. The upcoming training camp will provide the first opportunity for coaches to assess Fotu’s fit alongside established starters and other new arrivals, determining his role in the defensive rotation for the 2026 NFL season.
