The interior defensive line for the New England Patriots was arguably the team's best position group last season. Led by defensive linemen Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, and Khyiris Tonga, the Patriots dominated against the run, ranking sixth in rushing yards allowed per game (101.7).
However, New England’s interior suffered a huge blow in the offseason after Tonga signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Tonga was a meaningful role player for New England last season, logging 24 total tackles and 13 hurries, and now he joins an AFC rival that is desperate for a bounce-back season.
Despite losing a player who was crucial to defending the run, the Patriots surprisingly didn’t sign a defensive tackle to help fill his void, as they’re crowded with depth at the position.
With New England opting to replace Tonga from within, defensive tackle Joshua Farmer has a chance to earn a larger role in 2026.
Joshua Farmer Eyeing Redemption in 2026
The Patriots used a fourth-round selection on Farmer in the 2025 draft, and at the time, it felt like a great addition by the franchise. Throughout his four-year career with the Florida State Seminoles, Farmer had proven to be a solid interior defender, accumulating 80 total tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, and 11 sacks across 42 games.
While many fans anticipated Farmer would be an impactful contributor as a backup alongside Tonga in his rookie season, he wasn’t able to live up to expectations. In 13 appearances, Farmer saw the field for just 224 defensive snaps, logging 15 total tackles and seven hurries.
It goes without saying that the former Seminoles standout expected more out of himself than the underwhelming rookie season he had. This can be attributed to several factors.
Farmer dealt with multiple injuries throughout the season, missing Weeks 11 and 12 with an ankle injury before being sidelined for the team’s Super Bowl run due to a hamstring injury he sustained in Week 16. When he played, Farmer wasn’t much of a factor against either the run or pass, earning a 49 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus.
Additionally, with the injuries to Williams and Farmer, backups Cory Durden and Eric Gregory emerged in the second half of the season, further limiting Farmer’s opportunities to contribute.
Now, with Tonga out of the picture and a full offseason to recover, Farmer has a golden opportunity to redeem himself and prove his value in the coming months. Since Tonga received the majority of his workload in early-down situations and contributed against the run and pass, Farmer could receive a similar workload.
He’s already proven to be an adequate option against the run and clearly has the trust of head coach Mike Vrabel. Before going down in Week 16, Farmer had played a career-high 34 snaps in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills, logging two total tackles.
But if he’s to earn a similar workload, he must compete with Durden and Gregory for reps. While he holds the edge over Gregory, Durden has the upper hand in generating pressure.
Durden was a critical player in the postseason, compiling 11 hurries across four playoff games. For Farmer to earn a rotational role in the upcoming season, he must demonstrate progress in generating pressure. Farmer did display signs in his last two years at Florida State, logging 27 hurries.
For the Patriots to let Tonga walk, it’s evident that they believe in their interior depth to fill his void. This decision gives Farmer new life as he enters offseason workouts, as a breakout season would cement his place in the interior for the foreseeable future.