As the Patriots enter the 2026 NFL Draft following their Super Bowl LX appearance, the defensive interior remains a priority for Mike Vrabel and his staff. While the “foundation” is set with Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, the loss of Khyiris Tonga in free agency and the need for a sustainable rotation in Vrabel’s aggressive four-down front makes this a crucial year to add depth.
Defensive tackle is an emerging need for the Patriots, one that they will address in free agency and the draft. The interior defensive line struggled last season, especially when it came to stopping the run. The absence of Christian Barmore was evident. Barmore missed most of the season due to blood clots. His future with the team is up in the air despite signing a massive extension last off-season. Even…
The Patriots inability to consistently stop the run has been an issue in recent years. Bill Belichick attempted to address the issue in free agency last off-season by signing free agents Davon Godchaux, Henry Anderson, re-signing Lawrence Guy and drafting Christian Barmore. The moves paid off early as the Patriots were better against the run but as the season wore on, they struggled again. Defensive tackle is still a position……
Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Follow me on twitter @zcarey13 The New England Patriots had one of the most opportunistic sequences to start their 2021 NFL Draft that I have seen in a while. In the first round, sitting at pick 15, Mac Jones fell to New England who scooped him up quickly after staying put during Justin Fields‘ slide. Mac had one of the best college…