The Arizona Cardinals have some interest in Utah defensive lineman Leki Fotu in the NFL draft. We know this because they have had contact with him and intended on bringing him out to Arizona for one of the 30 official visits they are allowed. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that contact was limited to over the phone.
While there are a couple of highly touted defensive linemen who could be in play for the Cardinals in the first round — Auburn’s Derrick Brown and South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw — Fotu is an intriguing prospect because of the potential value.
He is a huge human being at 6-5, 330 pounds and he can move. He ran the 40 at the combine in 5.15 seconds despite tweaking his hamstring when he did it.
He believes he has untapped potential. Known as a run stopper, he believes he can be a good pass rusher.
“I’m currently more comfortable in the run game, but I know the type of player that I truly am, and I know what I can bring to the table as a pass rusher,” he said in an interview with Draft Wire’s Justin Melo. “My potential as a pass rusher hasn’t been fully realized as of right now. I know that I can be a great pass rusher.”
He says he was not asked to do much in terms of rushing the passer.
“I was able to take on those double teams and free up my teammates behind me to make plays,” he said. “I was taking up blocks and putting them in 1-on-1 situations. I would have loved to have had more 1-on-1 opportunities myself, but that’s not what the job entailed. That’s not what was asked of me. I feel like I did my job at an extremely high level.”
He believes he can be very good in the right situation in the NFL.
“I know that if I land with the right team and the right coaching staff, we can continue to develop my skills as a pass rusher,” he said. “I have a lot of untapped potential in that area. I feel like I’m gonna be a lot more disruptive than anyone else in this defensive tackle class.”
He would be a slam dunk of a pick if he is available when the Cardinals make their third-round selection.
Instead of Derrick Brown in the first round, Fotu in the third would be a steal.
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