Arizona Cardinals get a defensive tackle in fourth

The Arizona Cardinals had a need on the defensive line and went with a tackle first on Saturday

So many Arizona Cardinals fans were wondering when they would draft a defensive lineman.  Some even wondered if they would draft one.

The wait was over quickly with the Cardinals taking Leki Fotu from the University of Utah with their first fourth round selection of the 2020 NFL Draft on Saturday.  They have another pick later in the round.

Fotu is very athletic.  He stands at 6’5, 330 lbs.  He is a tackle that should help in stopping the opponents run game.

Of his 82 tackles in his college career with the Utes, 17 of them were for a loss.  The guy is considered quick, ran a 5.15 40-yard dash in the Scouting Combine back in February.

Analysts have pointed out his troubles moving side to side but a guy like this with his athleticism should be able to overcome that deficiency.  The Cardinals clearly think he can.

The fourth round seems like the right spot to draft Fotu.  CBS Sports had Fotu ranked as the 14th best defensive lineman in the draft, 172nd overall, ESPN had him at 11/151.  The Cardinals took him at 114 overall.

The Cardinals had a need though.  They also got a player with an excellent combination of size, speed, and athleticism.  So drafting Fotu at 114 is not that much of a stretch.

Fotu was a 2-time All-Pac 12 selection, being selected in 2018 and 2019.  He was also a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week in 2019.

The Cardinals may not be done on the defensive line just yet but they now have just three picks remaining, including their second selection of the round.  They do not have any picks in the fifth round and one each in the sixth and seventh rounds.

Fotu should be fun to watch.  We should all be looking forward to seeing what he can do against NFL offenses.