The Patriots added another former player of head coach Mike Vrabel by signing defensive tackle Kyle Peko to a one-year deal. Peko is joining a new and improved defensive line that’s already being ranked as one of the best in the NFL.
Peko isn’t a random addition. Although he’s played for Vrabel twice in Tennessee (2021, 2023), he also played for Terrell Williams last season in Detroit. He was a Week 1 starter, but he only played five games after he tore a pectoral muscle that required surgery and then he was placed on injured reserve.
On that same note, Peko also played for Josh McDaniels in 2022 when he was the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. So Peko went from Vrabel in Tennessee to McDanies in Las Vegas, back to Vrabel in Tennessee, and then to Williams in Detroit, to reunite with them all in New England.
After going undrafted in 2016, Peko is now on his sixth team in eight years. He’s bounced around the league, been on IR multiple times, and has only played more than eight games in a season once in his career (2023, 13 games).
Peko isn’t a bull that is going to get sacks or make tackles in the backfield. He’s a clogger that is going to force offensive linemen to double-team him, and in turn, it allows the linebackers to make plays.
Patriots new DT Kyle Peko isn’t a random signing. Although he’s played for Vrabel and Williams twice in Tennessee, he also played for Williams again in Detroit last season.
— Justin Trombino (@Trombino20) August 12, 2025
Here he is at DT (No. 96) taking on two OL, staying aware of the play he jumps to try to block the pass.… pic.twitter.com/uG9HNMq3qD
In his seven year career, Peko has recorded just 58 tackles, seven quarterback hits, five tackles for a loss, and only two sacks. He hasn’t made a sack or a forced fumble since 2021.
This is another player-specific familiarity signing for Vrabel and his coaching staff. It also adds another layer of competition to a defensive line that is still being retooled with specific personnel that fit in the defensive system Vrabel is implementing in New England.
The defensive line includes Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Keion White, Khyris Tonga, Joshua Farmer, Isaiah Iton, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Truman Jones, David Olajga, Jahvaree Ritzie, and Jereme Robinson.
The Patriots released defensive tackle Bryce Ganious, whom they signed just last week after he went undrafted out of Wake Forest to make room for Peko.
It’s still unknown how many defensive linemen the Patriots will keep on their roster, but Peko has a legitimate possibility to be with New England this season given his familiarity with the coaching staff and scheme.