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Former Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Leki Fotu reacting in the middle of an NFL game against the Tennessee Titans.

With Dexter Lawrence gone, the New York Giants have a massive hole to fill.

One of the moves they made to try to help fill it is by signing former New York Jets defensive tackle Leki Fotu.

NFL Insider Jordan Schultz revealed that it is a one-year deal.

“The 6-year veteran has 15 career TFLs and 4.5 sacks. He was with Las Vegas and Houston last season — and has started 26 career games,” Schultz posted.

Schultz also revealed that the Giants added defensive tackle Shelby Harris this week.

Revisiting Fotu’s Uninspiring Tenure With the Jets

Fotu, 27, will turn 28 before the start of the 2026 season.

The former Utah product joined the Jets in free agency in 2024. He appeared in just two games and made one start.

With those opportunities, he collected three total tackles, one of those being solo, and two of those being assisted.

Jets Trade Rumors

With the No. 2 overall pick, the Jets selected Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey in the 2026 NFL draft.

However, according to the fine folks over at uSTADIUM, “In the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft, the Jets fielded calls from 3 teams who had serious interest in trading up to #2 overall. All 3 teams let it be known they were coveting Texas Tech EDGE, David Bailey. No offers were good enough to get the Jets to move off of the pick.”

Coming off a 3-14 season, the Jets need help right now. Specifically, head coach Aaron Glenn needs win now players.

Bailey was the No. 1 overall pick of all the non-quarterbacks. He is expected to be an instant impact starter for the green and white.

It makes sense that the Jets punted on these deals. However, if any of them included serious 2027 NFL draft capital, that would have had general manager Darren Mougey thinking twice.

“The 2027 NFL Draft QB class is insanely deep. I can tell you right now: there are teams and scouts who are absolutley giddy about it,” Schultz explained on social media.

You’d have to figure the Jets are one of those teams. They did take a quarterback during April’s draft, but not until the fourth round.

Cade Klubnik, out of Clemson, is an interesting developmental option for the team. If we’re being honest, the level of investment wasn’t massive. If the Jets like a QB in next year’s draft, the selection of Klubnik the previous year won’t make them hesitate one iota to pull the trigger.

Funny Draft Story That No One Has Heard

In the first round of this year’s draft, the Jets took Bailey at No. 2 overall, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16 overall, and traded back into the first round to select Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr with the No. 30 overall pick.

However, there was a mini freak-out session in the Jets’ media press room.

ESPN’s Rich Cimini revealed on the “Jets Collective” podcast how he temporarily caused “some false hysteria” that the Jets traded up for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

Long story short, Cimini was at 1 Jets Drive for the draft in the media room. Cimini’s editor in Bristol has a direct contact with the NFL, so when every pick is officially submitted, he learns who it is and texts Cimini. That gives him the info generally before anyone else.

Normally, the editor’s job is to inform Cimini of the Jets’ picks. At No. 2 overall, he gave Cimini a heads-up that Bailey was the guy. Well, as they’re waiting for the Jets to pick again at No. 16 things got interesting.

“All of a sudden he texts me wow with like 10 W’s & so I text him, what? He texted me back, Ty Simpson. I announce in the press room everyone’s around the TV & I go guys, I think the Jets just traded up for Ty Simpson. I created some false hysteria in the press room. Then he texted me back, he goes no, the Rams. So for a fleeting moment there, we had thoughts of the Jets trading up for Ty Simpson. In hindsight, that was never a possibility,” Cimini said on the “Jets Collective” podcast.