Last year, the New England Patriots' defense struggled to generate any pressure on the quarterback. They ranked last in sacks (28), 30th in quarterback knockdowns (33), and 23rd in quarterback hurries (43).
Improving in this area was a big emphasis for Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf, who signed Milton Williams, Harold Landry III, Khyiris Tonga, and K’Lavon Chaisson in free agency, and selected Joshua Farmer and Bradyn Swinson in the draft to bolster their defensive line.
Now, with Christian Barmore healthy and Keion White aiming to take a big leap in his third season, the Patriots' defensive line is one of their strongest units. Because their line is crowded with depth, this likely means that newcomer Kyle Peko won’t play in a real game for New England.
Kyle Peko Unlikely to Play In a Real Game
On Monday, the Patriots signed defensive tackle Kyle Peko following the release of rookie Bryce Ganious. In Peko’s nine-year career, he’s played for five different teams, spending last season with the Detroit Lions, recording two total tackles in five games before suffering a season-ending injury.
Peko, 32, has experience playing for Mike Vrabel in 2021 and 2023, and he played for Terrell Williams last season when Williams was the defensive line coach for the Lions. Although he is familiar with both coaches, he faces an uphill battle to make the roster.
He’ll have to compete against a stacked defensive line group that currently features Joshua Farmer, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., and Isaiah Iton as its depth pieces. While Peko has the experience, all three players are much younger.
Even if Peko were to make the team, he would be towards the end of the depth chart and would receive scarce opportunities to play. With Vrabel trying to build a competitive team filled with impactful players, it’s unlikely, given Peko is coming off a torn pec, that he’ll play a game for the Patriots.