Following the departure of Khyiris Tonga, the New England Patriots have a timely opportunity in the 2026 NFL Draft to add developmental talent along the interior defensive line, bolstering run defense and deepening the pass-rush rotation around Milton Williams and Christian Barmore.
Our 2026 NFL Draft Profiles continue today with best fits for the New England Patriots at a position that they have great top-end talent at, but question marks within their depth: defensive tackle.
New England’s interior defensive line may just be the team’s greatest strength. Led by 2025 free agent acquisition Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, the top-end duo each finished last season ranked top five in total pressures.
With the departure of nose tackle Khyiris Tonga to the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason, the Patriots may look to add more competition in a room currently featuring Joshua Farmer, Cory Durden, Leonard Taylor III and Eric Gregory.
Whether it be a two-gapping nose tackle that eats up blocks in the running game to replace Tonga, or an elusive athlete to complement Williams and Barmore on passing downs, adding another rotational defensive lineman would bolster an already solid core along the interior.
It may not be an absolute need for New England at the top of the draft, but a defensive tackle could very well align with a “best player available” selection at several spots, starting at pick 31.
Here are five interior defensive linemen the Patriots could target in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Kayden McDonald, IDL, Ohio State
Consensus Big Board Ranking: #31 Overall (#2 Interior Defensive Lineman)
© Joe Nicholson-Imagn ImagesNew England reportedly hosted Ohio State standout Kayden McDonald on a Top 30 Visit during the pre-draft process after an incredibly productive junior season for the 21-year-old prospect.
In 2025, McDonald starred as an elite run defender (91.2 run defense grade per PFF, first among all FBS interior defensive linemen) who used excellent leverage, sustain, and recognition to consistently disrupt plays in the backfield.
McDonald was named a unanimous First-Team All-American selection, Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year, First-Team All-Big Ten, and a finalist for the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s top interior lineman. He racked up career-highs in tackles (65), tackles for loss (nine), sacks (four), total stops (34, fifth among FBS interior defensive linemen), total pressures (15), and forced fumbles (two, first among FBS interior defensive linemen).
Playing primarily at nose tackle, McDonald’s combination of size (6’2”, 326 lbs.), play strength, and short-area quickness allow him to make effective use of his initial strike off the snap and beat linemen to the ballcarrier with anticipation and athleticism.
McDonald chose to forgo athletic testing at the NFL Scouting Combine, but had an impressive showing during the on-field drills.
Off the field, McDonald excelled in the classroom as an OSU Scholar-Athlete (2023-25) and Academic All-Big Ten Conference selection (2024-25).
His greatest areas of improvement are in pass rush, where he can more consistently use his hand quickness and change-of-direction to shed blocks quickly and penetrate the pocket. Still, as a direct replacement to Tonga in run support, McDonald brings a high-ceiling and ample room to grow into an immediate early-down contributor in the middle of the Patriots’ front.
Domonique Orange, IDL, Iowa State
Consensus Big Board Ranking: #66 Overall (#6 IDL)
© Reese Strickland-Imagn ImagesA two-gapping specialist that wins positioning in run fits off the snap with great hand placement and first-step quickness, Domonique Orange specializes as a space-eating nose tackle that found great success on a limited snap count.
After playing in all 12 games as a reserve during his freshman year in 2022, “Big Citrus” stepped into the starting defensive lineup as a sophomore and was named Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in 2023 and 2024, and Third-Team All-Big 12 in 2025.
Orange played just 367 total defensive snaps in 2024, and recorded 24 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, 17 total pressures and 17 total stops. He finished the year with a career-best missed tackle rate of 7.1% and defensive grade of 82.6.
In 2025, his increased availability (547 defensive snaps) may not have led to greater numbers in the box score (18 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 13 total pressures and 16 total stops), but his impact was felt along the Cyclones’ front. Orange’s long arms (33 ⅜”), explosive power, and solid base allow him to eat up blocks in the interior and maintain tackling position through the whistle even while engaged.
His best performance of the season came against Iowa and center Logan Jones (Rimington Trophy winner as nation's top center), when he racked up six tackles and was named Bednarik Player of the Week.
Off the field, Orange was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2022, 2024, and 2025, and was an Academic All-Big 12 selection in 2024.
He didn’t test athletically at the NFL Scouting Combine, but measured in at 6’2”, 322 lbs.
At the next level, Orange will have to show more resilience against contact on double team blocks with better body control and more consistent hand usage to quickly shed blocks as a pass rusher.
A run-stuffer with the size and quickness to create gap penetration, Orange would solidify New England’s early-down run defense and anchor the middle of the front.
Kaleb Proctor, IDL, Southeastern Louisiana
Consensus Big Board Ranking: #101 Overall (#9 IDL)
© SCOTT CLAUSE / USATODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesIf the Patriots are searching for an elite athlete to pair with Williams along the defensive interior on passing downs, look no further than Kaleb Proctor.
A defensive tackle with a much different size profile than others on this list (6’2”, 291 lbs.), Proctor compensates for his lower weight with rare athleticism, explosive playmaking potential, and the proven production required for an FCS defensive lineman to be rated as high as he is on the consensus board.
Proctor was named AFCA First-Team FCS All-American and Southland Conference Defensive Player of the year with 43 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 39 total pressures (fifth among all interior defensive linemen) and nine sacks (second among all interior defensive linemen) in 2025.
His 86.5 overall defensive grade in 2025 ranked ninth among all interior defensive linemen, with high marks in pass-rush grade (90.4, third among interior defensive linemen) and pass-rush win-rate (13.7%). In his four years at Southeastern Louisiana, Proctor totaled 134 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 79 total pressures, 61 total stops, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
He received national acclaim after a two sack, three tackle-for-loss performance against No. 3 LSU last season and continued to impress on a larger scale with a dominant showing at the East-West Shrine Bowl, earning “West All-Practice Team” honors.
In Indianapolis, Proctor continued to raise his stock with a 4.79 40-yard dash that included a 1.68 second 10-yard split, 33” vertical jump, 9’5” broad jump and 4.71 second 20-yard shuttle. He earned an overall athleticism score of 81 (fourth among defensive tackles at the combine) and received a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.11 out of 10.00, ranking 188th of 2,098 defensive tackle prospects from 1987-2026.
Proctor is an elusive interior rusher with exceptional short-area agility, first step quickness, and wins within a variety of alignments and pass rush angles. He shows bend and acceleration to win off the snap against slower pass protectors and penetrates into the backfield consistently off of twists and stunts.
He’ll see a major improvement in the quality of opponent across from him in the NFL, and his size could be a cause for concern — especially on running downs — but Proctor offers an incredibly high-ceiling to contribute immediately as a complementary rusher to Williams and Barmore and develop into an interior staple in the future.
Dontay Corleone, IDL, Cincinnati
Consensus Big Board Ranking: #118 Overall (#12 IDL)
© Aaron Doster-Imagn ImagesDontay “The Godfather” Corleone commanded the interior of the Cincinnati Bearcats defensive line with consistent production over each of the last four years.
A three-time team captain, Corleone burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2022 and was recognized as a Third-Team All-American, Freshman All-American, and First-Team All-American Athletic Conference after finishing the season with 45 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, 31 total stops and two forced fumbles on just 328 total defensive snaps. He ranked as PFF’s highest overall graded interior defensive linemen with high marks in overall defensive grade (93.8) and run defense grade (94.7).
Corleone earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2023 and 2025, and First-Team All-Big 12 recognition in 2024 as a team captain. He finished his collegiate career with 123 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 68 total stops, 68 total pressures, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 44 games.
At 6’0 ½”, 340 lbs., with 31 ⅞” arms, Corleone uses his compact frame and natural play strength to win leverage battles at the point of attack, make plays through contact, and wreak havoc with an effective bull rush on passing downs.
Corleone did not participate in athletic testing at the NFL Scouting Combine, and a battle with blood clots in 2024 could give some teams pause about his long-term health.
On the field, he’ll need to show better block control against double teams and knock-back power on first contact to compensate for his shorter stature and arm length. But Corleone’s upside as a run stuffer that has a proven track record of bringing pressure as part of the pass rush cannot be overlooked.
Corleone would bring versatility along the interior of the Patriots defensive line as an effective substitute on all three downs.
Tim Keenan III, IDL, Alabama
Consensus Big Board Ranking: #149 Overall (#21 IDL)
© BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesTim Keenan III is a two-gapping nose tackle that started at Alabama for three years and won with a broad frame and base strength to eat up double teams in the middle of the defensive front.
In 41 games with the Crimson Tide, Keenan totaled 95 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 55 total stops, eight sacks, 45 total pressures, and one forced fumble with a missed tackle rate of 9.4%. He received high marks with an 85.5 overall defensive grade and 90.1 run defense grade in 2024, when he recorded career-bests in tackles (40), tackles for loss (7.5), sacks (three), and missed tackle rate (5.3%).
Keenan’s redshirt senior season got off to a slow start in 2025 as he worked his way back from ankle surgery, but he was named a team captain and found his stride late with 16 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, 12 total pressures, 12 total stops, one forced fumble and a blocked punt to cap off his collegiate career.
Off the field, Keenan was selected to watch lists for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, and the Wuerffel Trophy (presented in recognition of a player’s community service efforts) in 2024.
Standing 6’1”, 327 lbs., with 30 ½” arms, Keenan brings the frame and play strength to maintain run fits and flashes good short-area agility to enter the picture in open gaps. He uses his leverage efficiently as a picker on twists and stunts to open lanes for pass rushers, and wins off the snap with quick hand strikes.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Keenan ran the 40-yard dash in 5.31 seconds with a 1.83 second 10-yard split, jumped 30” in the vertical jump and 8’4” in the broad jump, and bench pressed 225 lbs. 21 times. He earned an RAS of 2.74, ranking 1,648 of 2,270 defensive tackle prospects from 1987-2026.
His athleticism won’t jump off the screen, but that’s not what is required as a run-stuffing nose tackle. Still, his short arms do lead to issues disconnecting from attached blockers and winning at the point of attack with less-than-ideal explosion through initial contact.
Keenan offers Day 3 value for replacement nose tackle that has played against high-level competition for three years with great success in his role.
BONUS! Jordan van den Berg, IDL, Georgia Tech
Consensus Big Board Ranking: #217 Overall (#26 IDL)
© Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesJordan van den Berg hails from Johannesburg, South Africa, and brings unmatched athleticism and unrelenting effort to the interior defensive line.
After three years as a rotational substitute at Penn State, van den Berg earned a starting role at Georgia Tech in 2024 and had his best year statistically as a redshirt senior. Last season, van den Berg totaled 44 tackles, 11 tackles for loss (ranked second in FBS among interior defensive linemen), three sacks (tied for the team lead), 29 total pressures, and 19 total stops.
He was named First-Team All-ACC and First-Team Academic All-American in 2025.
While he didn’t attend the NFL Scouting Combine, van den Berg did make a splash at his Pro Day. He measured in at 6’3”, 310 lbs., with 32 ⅓” arms, and shined in athletic testing. He ran a 4.94 second 40-yard dash, 4.19 second 20-yard shuttle, jumped 36” in the vertical jump and 9’11” in the broad jump, and hit 35 reps on the bench press. His composite RAS was a 10.00 out of 10.00, ranking second of 2,098 defensive tackle prospects from 1987-2026 — behind only Philadelphia Eagles’ star Jordan Davis.
Van den Berg makes effective use of his explosive first step quickness and weight room strength with the agility and power to beat interior offensive linemen clean off the snap or bull rush straight through them. He tracks opposing ballcarriers well through traffic and sustains his drive through the whistle.
He’ll need to develop better hand-fighting technique to shed blocks and become a more consistent finisher of plays, but his testing numbers, improvement year-over-year, and “effort and finish” mentality are signs of a valuable upside swing for a Day 3 prospect.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 NFL Draft presents New England with the opportunity to bolster depth at a position of strength along the interior defensive line. Whether that be a surprising splash early or a developmental project late, Vrabel and Co. aren’t afraid to add competition at any area of the roster — and have the assets to do so with 11 selections to make later this month.
Do you think the Patriots need to add to their interior defensive line depth? Is it as dire a depth-addition as some of the other positions we’ve covered? Let us know in the comments section below.
Stay tuned for that and much more right here on Patriots Roundtable.
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