The New England Patriots are facing a bit of a reshuffle on their defensive line after losing Khyiris Tonga to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. Tonga, who initially joined the Patriots on a one-year deal, found himself contributing across the board-offense, defense, and special teams.
He logged a career-high 337 defensive snaps and even dabbled in 14 offensive plays. The Chiefs saw his value and signed him to a three-year, $21 million contract.
Now, while the Patriots have some solid players like Milton Williams, Cory Durden, and Christian Barmore holding down the fort on the defensive line, filling the gap left by Tonga is no small task. His versatility, especially his unexpected role as a fullback on run plays, added a unique dimension to the team. The Patriots have already brought in Reggie Gilliam to handle those fullback duties, but they still need to bolster their depth on the defensive line and maintain their special teams prowess.
Doug Kyed from the Boston Herald has thrown out an interesting prediction: the Patriots might look to the upcoming NFL Draft to find their answer. Specifically, he suggests Cole Brevard from the University of Texas could be a fit.
Brevard, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 346 pounds, has the physicality to develop into a nose tackle. Last season, he played in 13 games and notched 18 tackles.
Over his college career, which spanned Penn State, Purdue, and Texas, he recorded nine tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. His potential makes him a promising candidate for the Patriots’ defensive line.
While Tonga's departure might not heavily impact the Patriots' defensive strategy, given their current roster and Barmore's availability, finding a new defensive tackle remains a priority. However, it seems like they can afford to address this need later in the draft, focusing on Day 3 to find the right fit.