{"id":106349,"date":"2025-10-12T09:02:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T09:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=106349"},"modified":"2025-10-12T09:02:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T09:02:18","slug":"foxboro-surprise-patriots-overlooked-free-agent-signing-is-quietly-becoming-a-core-piece-coaches-say-his-work-ethic-is-turning-heads-inside-the-facility-analysts-believe-he-could-emerge-as","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=106349","title":{"rendered":"FOXBORO SURPRISE: Patriots\u2019 Overlooked Free Agent Signing Is Quietly Becoming a Core Piece, Coaches Say His Work Ethic Is Turning Heads Inside the Facility, Analysts Believe He Could Emerge as a Key Factor Down the Stretch, And Fans Are Starting to Realize They Might\u2019ve Found a Hidden Gem\u2026ll"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
No NFL team spent more in 2025 free agency than the New England Patriots, with defensive tackle Milton Williams, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and pass rusher Harold Landry III headlining a class with over $360 million in total potential contract value, per Over the Cap<\/em>.<\/p>\n
Several of those new Patriots have already made strong impressions by stuffing the box score through five games. Veteran linebacker Robert Spillane, for example, leads the team in both solo tackles (25) and run-stuffs (16). Williams and Landry have proven they can affect the passer with a combined six sacks and 38 total QB pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.<\/em><\/p>\n
The beauty of Mike Vrabel\u2019s group entering Week 6 is that the contributions are coming from all over the roster, especially on a defense that\u2019s had a ton of moving parts through five games.<\/p>\n
In fact, you could argue that one of the team\u2019s most impactful players through five games has been a former seventh-round pick the majority of Patriots fans had never heard of back in March.<\/p>\n
Unsung Patriots defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga is carving out a pivotal role in Mike Vrabel\u2019s defense<\/h2>\n
Nobody was talking about Tonga when the Patriots signed him to a $2.1 million contract on March 10. The massive nose tackle had been little more than a gap-stuffing role player throughout his previous stops in Chicago, Minnesota, and Arizona.<\/p>\n
Six months later, it’s almost impossible not to notice big No. 95 and his flowing black hair whenever he gets on field.<\/p>\n
Through five games, you could argue that no Patriots defender has done more with limited opportunities than Tonga, who\u2019s seen 122 total snaps and ranks second on the team with a 74.3 overall PFF grade. He\u2019s been stout against the rush with four total stuffs, including two big ones in New England\u2019s upset win over the Bills last week.<\/p>\n\n
\n
Random thought watching the Pats run defense: The NT, Khyiris Tonga, was sensational vs a very good Bills IOL<\/p>\n
More surprising has been Tonga\u2019s work on passing downs, as he ranks top-15 among NFL interior defensive linemen in pass-rush win rate. Entering Week 6 in New Orleans, he\u2019s posted four pressures, three hurries, and one QB hit in 19 true pass-rush sets, per PFF.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s clearly something brewing here with Tonga, and it started back in the summer when Vrabel named him one of the team\u2019s offseason award winners. He\u2019s been on the field for less than half of the team\u2019s defensive snaps on the season, but saw a season-high 28 against the Bills last week and looks firmly ahead of both Cory Durden and Joshua Farmer in the defensive line rotation.<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
Mike Vrabel says Khyiris Tonga moves better than the HC initially expected and that he loves the person<\/p>\n
Noted Tonga saw an increase in snaps last week and that the team needs to get the NT on the field more<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Patriots entered 2025 with some serious question marks on the defensive interior, from Barmore\u2019s lingering health issues, to Williams\u2019s chops as a true three-down player, to the team\u2019s decision to cut ties with veteran Davon Godchaux in a trade with the Saints.<\/p>\n
There’s no arguing with the results. New England\u2019s defensive line group has emerged as one of the true backbones of the team, and Tonga\u2019s presence has been a massive reason why.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
No NFL team spent more in 2025 free agency than the New England Patriots, with defensive tackle Milton Williams, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and pass rusher Har<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":106350,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-106349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n
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