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Patriots reportedly sign defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga to 1-year deal
Khyiris Tonga will serve as valuable depth on New England's defensive line in 2025.
Just hours after reportedly coming to terms with the top free-agent defensive lineman on the market in Milton Williams, the Patriots reportedly bolstered their personnel in the trenches.
Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots have signed defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga to a 1-year, $2.7 million deal for the 2025 season. The 6-foot-4, 338-pound defensive tackle should serve as depth for New England’s D-line as an imposing nose tackle.
Tonga, who was selected by the Bears in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of BYU, has played for four different teams since making it to the NFL, with his most recent stop coming in 2024 with the Arizona Cardinals.
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During his lone season in Arizona, Tonga appeared in 13 games, including one start. Tonga recorded 22 tackles last season, logging 27 percent of Arizona’s defensive snaps during his appearances.
New England dealt veteran nose tackle Davon Godchaux to the Saints on Monday morning for a 2026 seven-round pick, with New England reportedly augmenting their defensive strategy at the line of scrimmage under Mike Vrabel.
The addition of a defensive lineman like Williams validates that belief that New England is changing its approach in the trenches, although bringing in a player like Tonga offers up some solid depth at a low price point.
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