The New England Patriots made a surprising run to the Super Bowl last year, but part of the price is losing some of the contributors who led them there. The Patriots were able to replace some of the talent by signing Romeo Doubs, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Dre’Mont Jones in free agency. However, other players got away, including defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga.
Tonga served a role for the Patriots as a run-stuffer and even played some fullback and special teams on their way to the Super Bowl. But the Kansas City Chiefs may have surprised some when they offered Tonga a three-year, $21 million contract to solidify the middle of their defensive line. Given that Tonga had $6.38 million in career earnings before that offer, it is hard to blame the defender for signing on the dotted line.
The Chiefs could use Tonga in a rotational role and find him to be a suitable complement to Chris Jones. But it’s more likely they regret the hefty price tag, and Tonga is a massive letdown in Kansas City.
Tonga’s Performance with Pats Could Set Him Up to Be FA Bust for Chiefs
Tonga has carved out a solid career in the NFL, and a lot of it happened before joining the Patriots last fall. In his first four seasons, Tonga appeared in 53 games with the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Arizona Cardinals, logging 89 total tackles and three tackles for loss with 0.5 sacks.
Last season felt like a breakout with the Patriots as he managed a career-high eight starts, but Tonga did a lot of the things he had been doing all along with 24 tackles, two tackles for loss, and no sacks in 14 total games. Pro Football Focus also noted that Tonga played a career-high 415 snaps and set another career-high with 17 quarterback pressures. But his previous career highs were 10 pressures in a 300-snap season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.
Set to turn 30 in July, last season was likely Tonga’s ceiling, but the Chiefs could have plans to stretch him beyond his means. Jones led the Patriots with 761 total snaps last season, but Jerry Tillery (374), Derrick Nnadi (308), and Mike Pennel (308) had their snaps sit in the 300s. Those numbers may have looked different if Omarr Norman-Lott hadn’t torn his ACL, but it’s possible Tonga could be tasked with playing roughly 500 snaps if Norman-Lott isn’t ready to start the season.
It’s also worth noting that while Tonga was cast in a run-stuffing role, PFF wasn’t a fan of his results. In 198 snaps against the run, Tonga posted a grade of 55.4 with 17 run stops, and he’s posted a run defense grade over 60 just once, a 73.3 grade in 2022, in his five seasons in the NFL.
At $7 million per year, it was wise for the Patriots to decline the chance to bring Tonga back, and it’s probably why New England dragged their feet in contract talks around the NFL Scouting Combine. Unless the Chiefs are planning to add another defensive tackle in the draft, he might not bring Kansas City what they’re paying for.