Cory Durden’s rise has put the Patriots in a tricky spot, and it’s one they may not have expected when the trade chatter around Christian Barmore started heating up ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
The rumors picked up after New England’s second-half comeback over the Dolphins in Miami, with Barmore suddenly becoming one of the names most often mentioned. He’s been a fixture on the Patriots’ interior defensive line when healthy, but his 2024 season was derailed by a health issue, and now, in Week 9, Durden is making a real push for that same role.
That’s what makes this situation uncomfortable. Barmore was a breakout player in 2023, piling up 8.5 sacks, but he hasn’t reached that level since. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported on Oct. 30 that Barmore “could be had” after playing well under 50% of New England’s defensive snaps.
Durden’s performance is a big reason the conversation has gained traction. Against Miami, he turned in 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits, a showing that stood out.
He also has 19 total stops this season, along with five quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His 26 snaps in that game were fewer than Barmore’s 36, but the trend is clear: Durden is playing more, producing more, and looking more like a regular part of the rotation.
The fourth-year veteran has been building into a force next to Milton Williams, and that only sharpens the question of what the Patriots want to do with Barmore.
The contract situation matters too. Barmore has two years left on his deal, with cap hits of $23.6 million in 2027 and $24.6 million in 2028.
He has no guarantees remaining after the 2026 season, according to Over the Cap. Durden, meanwhile, is on the books for just $1.15 million this season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
That kind of money has to be part of the discussion if New England seriously considers moving Barmore. A trade would create cap relief now and later, but it would also mean giving up a top player while the Patriots are still in the middle of a playoff push. And if Milton Williams were to get hurt, the fallout on the defensive line would be severe.
So yes, Durden’s emergence gives the Patriots a tempting out. But it also creates a difficult football decision.
Moving Barmore would be a bet on the future. Keeping him would be a bet that New England can keep chasing a deep run this season.
The sense here is the Patriots may not be eager to take that kind of risk.
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