And certainly, no one is complaining about that.
But after the draft wrapped up, the Patriots went to work on the undrafted free agent market and immediately got themselves some defensive depth pieces.
One signing, in particular, immediately stood out.
He was in demand. The Patriots beat out other bidders with one of the more expensive UDFA deals the team has handed out, agreeing to a package that includes $200,000 guaranteed—an unusually strong commitment that signals how serious New England is about giving him a real shot to make the 53-man roster this summer.
The message was clear: defensive tackle was a position the Patriots were looking to strengthen, and this 335-pound project will have a real chance to make a spot.
That player is Dontay Corleone, the powerful defensive tackle from Cincinnati.
Dontay Corleone Just Became a Cincinnati Standout
The Patriots, in the end, did not use a premium pick on a true nose tackle, but Corleone should be the kind of long-term project who could come along, either on the roster or on the practice squad, with time.
The Patriots have as good a track record with undrafted free agents as any organization in the NFL and, indeed, take pride in their record of development.
Corleone played 49 games for Cincinnati in his college career, collecting 118 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 6 sacks in that span. He became one of the most recognizable defensive linemen in the program, earning a reputation as a powerful interior presence who could clog lanes and absorb contact.
At 6-foot-1 and 335 pounds, there is a lot to work with when it comes to Corleone.
From the NFL scouting profile, Corleone is a strong, stout defensive lineman with the power to hold his ground inside and reset the line of scrimmage.
He needs to continue improving his pass-rush consistency and conditioning, but he has the size, leverage and raw strength to compete for a depth-level role.
While his medical history and limited third-down impact may have pushed him down boards, his ability to eat double teams, control gaps and give linebackers cleaner looks makes him exactly the kind of developmental interior defender teams are willing to bet on.
Corleone is still developing but should be in the conversation as a serious undrafted player with a chance to outperform his draft status.
Patriots Have Good Defensive Tackle Foundation
The Patriots will enter the 2026 season feeling better about their defensive front after making several moves to rebuild a unit that struggled badly the year before.
But the depth in the middle remains a question. New England added young defensive pieces through the draft, but the interior line still needs bodies who can handle early-down work, defend the run and survive the physical grind of an NFL season.
That is where Corleone fits.
He is not arriving as a finished product, and no one should pretend otherwise. But he gives the Patriots something they lacked too often last season: a heavy, physical presence in the middle who can force offenses to account for him.
The Patriots also have veterans and recent additions ahead of him on the depth chart, so Corleone may need to earn his way through training camp and preseason reps. But that is the situation he is walking into, and it is one that could afford him a real chance to earn a spot.