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Could the Patriots trade Stefon Diggs?
ESPN published a piece on Thursday morning, as insiders collaborated on ideas on what each NFL team will do ahead of the draft. ESPN’s Jordan Reid suggested that the New England Patriots may draft a specific position. It’s one that Patriots fans may not expect.
The defensive line was a strong position for the team last season. The position itself was headlined by free-agent signing Milton Williams. Other key pieces included Christian Barmore and nose tackle Corey Durden. The latter came onto the scene as an undrafted free agent, and made an impact.
There are certainly pieces to be had on the defensive line for the Patriots. However, it may still be a focus for the Patriots in the draft. Reid gave his thoughts on this Thursday.
It’s essential for the Patriots to attack the offensive and defensive lines in this draft. Don’t rule out a defensive tackle for New England in the first two rounds, as it wants to continue to strengthen its rotation at that spot. Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) is someone to watch early, and Nick Barrett (South Carolina) is an interior defender to keep an eye on in later rounds.
Patriots Were Able To Get Ample Production
When you take a look at the depth on the defensive line, the Patriots were able to get solid production. Williams had 3.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss on the year. Barmore had 25 tackles, one sack, and six quarterback hits. Those two were the main pieces of the defensive line for New England.
The Patriots also had additional depth pieces on the line as well. Durden tallied 30 tackles in 17 games. He went from an undrafted free agent to a key piece in the defensive line rotation.
It’s also worth noting that Leonard Taylor II played a big role as well. He appeared in all 17 games as a rotational defender. However, his biggest play may have come against the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game. He blocked what would have been a game-tying field goal and kept the Patriots in the lead.
Patriots Have Major Caveat At Position
There is undoubtedly depth for the Patriots at the defensive line position. Nevertheless, the depth comes with caveats. Barmore in particular, has struggled with health over the past couple of seasons. He was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs during training camp in 2024. He missed the first 10 games and even attempted to come back for four games in November that year. The Alabama product shut down when symptoms recurred.
Adding a younger piece would certainly not be a bad thing for the organization. The Patriots are veteran-heavy at the position. The emergence of a player like Durden certainly helped the depth last season. He went from just being a rotational piece to a key contributor. His development was certainly a positive for the defensive line, especially when Milton Williams went down with an injury late in the year.
The Patriots’ defense thrived under head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr. Adding a younger player into the mix would certainly be a smart move, as they continue to develop and cycle through defensive linemen. Building strong depth on the defensive line has not been a strong suit for the Patriots over the past couple of seasons. Now they are in a position to really focus and hone in on making the position strong again.
The NFL draft could have plenty of twists and turns at the end of the month. If anything, it’s clear that the Patriots will be right in the thick of things.