One Bills Drive continues exploring all options centered on reshaping the interior of its defensive line.
The Buffalo Bills have reportedly met with unrestricted free-agent defensive tackle Leki Fotu, per Tom Pelissero who shared Fotu had previously met with Las Vegas Raiders personnel on March 20. Fotu’s scheduled visit on Friday, Mach 21 largely flew under the radar, but Buffalo’s interest in him is noteworthy.
Lotu is best observed as a tried-and-true classic nose tackle — he’s a massive space eater, standing 6’5 and weighing 335 pounds. But to this point in the NFL, the 26-year-old Lotu is still looking to make a bigger impact on the field.
Lotu was drafted by the Cardinals in Round 4 of the 2020 NFL Draft, landing in Arizona at 114 overall. After four seasons in the desert where he started 21 of 56 games for the Cardinals, Lotu hit free agency and landed in New Jersey.
Lotu’s arrival in the Meadowlands didn’t prove fruitful, where he managed three tackles (one solo) in two games. It was a brief stay with the New York Jets, leaving Lotu to find work with a new NFL team in 2025.
While some see Lotu as a reserve defensive tackle at this point, his time in Arizona shows a player who was productive when given opportunity. In four campaigns, he twice managed to start nine games during both the 2022 and 2024 NFL seasons. Overall, Lotu made 89 tackles (42 solo), 12 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, three pass defenses, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery playing defense for the Cardinals.
(all stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference)
Does Leki Fotu fit the Bills?
A massive mountain of a man with starting experience in the NFL physically capable of disrupting the trenches? Yes, Fotu could potentially fit into a role the Bills seek to repair. As we heard from general manager Brandon Beane, he’s had to change the stores he’s shopping in for free agents. That means bargain, short-term deals.
Buffalo could do worse than to give a chance to a guy who would immediately become one of the biggest players on the team. His starting experience is invaluable to NFL coaches, and at just 26 it may simply take the right coaching and environment for Lotu to fully tap into his professional potential.
Viewing Lotu as a potential starter with news of this meeting shouldn’t be the move. The trenches are manned by Ed Oliver (3-tech) and DaQuan Jones (1-tech) before all others until proven otherwise. But Jones isn’t getting any younger, and head coach Sean McDermott has said no multiple occasions that the play needs to improve in the trenches.
Does Leki Fotu’s visit to One Bills Drive register a certain way with you?