Daily News 19

Tag: Defensive Tackle

  • Sources: Patriots to Add DaQuan Jones on 1-Year Deal

    Sources: Patriots to Add DaQuan Jones on 1-Year Deal

    The New England Patriots are expected to sign veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones to a one-year contract worth up to $6 million, according to sources who spoke with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Friday.

    Contract Details and Role

    The 12-year veteran will receive a $3.5 million base salary as part of the agreement. Jones arrives in New England as a proven interior presence, having started all 51 regular-season games he appeared in over the past four seasons with the Buffalo Bills, along with eight postseason contests under former head coach Sean McDermott.

    Reunion with Mike Vrabel

    The signing reunites Jones with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. The two spent three seasons together with the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2020, when Vrabel served as Tennessee’s head coach. That familiarity should ease Jones’ transition into New England’s defensive scheme.

    Depth Chart Impact

    Jones joins a defensive tackle room that currently features Milton Williams, Cory Durden, and Christian Barmore at the top of the depth chart. Joshua Farmer and Leonard Taylor III project as the primary backups. The addition provides valuable experience and rotational depth at a position that relies heavily on fresh legs.

    Production and Durability

    Since 2022, Jones has recorded 10 regular-season sacks and posted a 37% run stop win rate, which ranked sixth on the Bills during that span. His 2023 campaign was interrupted by a torn pectoral muscle that required surgery and forced him to miss 10 games, but he returned to form in 2024.

    Career Timeline

    A fourth-round selection by the Titans in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Penn State, Jones spent his first seven professional seasons in Tennessee, starting 93 of 99 games played. He played the 2021 season with the Carolina Panthers, starting all 17 games. Across his career, the 34-year-old has accumulated 20 sacks and 372 tackles.

    ESPN’s Mike Reiss and Alaina Getzenberg contributed to this report.

  • Penn State DT Siale Taupaki Returns for Eighth College Season, Citing Family as Deciding Factor

    Penn State DT Siale Taupaki Returns for Eighth College Season, Citing Family as Deciding Factor

  • Osa Odighizuwa: 49ers Interior Disruptor Key to Pass Rush

    Osa Odighizuwa: 49ers Interior Disruptor Key to Pass Rush

    The San Francisco 49ers entered the offseason with a clear agenda: reinforce the roster after a chaotic summer that sparked scrutiny of the front office. While the draft class and free-agent splashes grabbed headlines, the trade for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has emerged as the transaction most likely to define the team’s defensive ceiling in 2025.

    Draft Capital and Core Retention Set the Foundation

    San Francisco addressed immediate needs through the draft, selecting wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, running back Kaelon Black, and offensive lineman Carver Willis. The front office also prioritized continuity, re-signing kicker Eddy Piñeiro and tight end Jake Tonges to maintain special-teams stability and depth at a versatile position.

    Free Agency: Nostalgia Meets Star Power

    The free-agent period carried a distinct homecoming theme. Bringing back linebacker Dre Greenlaw and wide receiver Deebo Samuel resonated emotionally with a fan base eager to reclaim the identity those players represent. Yet the splash signing was undoubtedly wide receiver Mike Evans, a perennial Pro Bowler who instantly reshapes the passing attack.

    Why the Osa Odighizuwa Trade Is the Real Headliner

    Beneath the surface noise, the acquisition of Osa Odighizuwa from the Dallas Cowboys stands as the most underrated—and potentially most consequential—move of the offseason. After a five-year tenure in Dallas, Odighizuwa arrives with a rare blend of durability and disruptive upside.

    Ironman Durability Meets Elite Pressure Rates

    Odighizuwa has not missed a single game across his NFL career, a testament to his physical reliability in the trenches. While he may not grade as an elite run stuffer or volume tackler, his pass-rush metrics tell a different story. Over the past two seasons, he ranked second and first, respectively, in quarterback pressures among interior defensive linemen. That quick first step off the snap generates consistent backfield disruption even when the sack totals do not fully reflect the havoc created.

    Athleticism and Scheme Versatility

    His ability to collapse the pocket without relying on traditional power moves makes him a schematic chess piece. Defensive coordinators can deploy him in multiple alignments, confident that his athleticism will stress opposing guards and centers on every snap.

    Injury to Alfred Collins Elevates Odighizuwa from Luxury to Necessity

    The recent confirmation that second-year defensive tackle Alfred Collins will miss the entire 2025 season with a torn patellar tendon transforms Odighizuwa’s role from impactful addition to indispensable anchor. San Francisco possesses capable pass rushers and a deep rotation of interior options, yet none combine Odighizuwa’s durability, pressure consistency, and schematic flexibility. His presence now underpins the entire defensive line’s ability to sustain success across a grueling schedule.

    In a roster built on star power at the skill positions, the quiet excellence of Osa Odighizuwa may ultimately determine how high the 49ers’ defense—and by extension, the team—can climb.

  • Byron Murphy II Could Be Seahawks’ Next Big Payday

    Byron Murphy II Could Be Seahawks’ Next Big Payday

    Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II enters the 2026 NFL season with a clear objective: translate elite production into the league-wide recognition he believes he has earned. Despite posting numbers in his second campaign that rivaled Pro Bowl selections, Murphy remains a relative unknown outside the Pacific Northwest—a reality he intends to change.

    Murphy Targets Elite Benchmarks for Breakout Year

    The 2025 season saw Murphy take a significant leap forward. After a rookie year in 2024 that yielded 36 total tackles and two tackles for loss as a rotational piece, he emerged as a full-time disruptor. He finished the campaign with 62 total tackles, 13 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Notably, he achieved this while primarily aligning at the one-technique position, where he consistently absorbed double teams.

    For 2026, Murphy has set specific, ambitious targets: a Pro Bowl nod, an All-Pro selection, and double-digit sacks. He acknowledges the perception that he is undervalued, attributing it partly to playing on the West Coast and avoiding off-field controversy.

    Murphy states he wants to be a more aggressive pass rusher from the interior. The Seahawks’ defensive scheme offers a pathway to that goal, with packages designed to move him to the three-technique alignment. That shift would create more one-on-one matchups against offensive linemen, allowing him to utilize the improved speed, athleticism, and separation moves he has refined this offseason rather than relying solely on power.

    National Media Takes Note of Extension Potential

    The conversation surrounding Murphy’s future compensation has migrated from local circles to the national stage. ESPN reporter Dan Graziano believes Murphy could be the first and biggest candidate for a lucrative extension following a third-year breakout. This projection follows a Seahawks offseason that already rewarded young core pieces: wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, edge rusher Derick Hall, defensive tackle Leonard Williams, and offensive tackle Charles Cross all signed long-term deals.

    Those extensions established a framework for retaining homegrown talent. While Murphy is not eligible for a new contract until the 2027 offseason, a dominant 2026 season would position him at the front of the queue.

    Championship Defense Fueled by Perceived Disrespect

    The backdrop for Murphy’s individual pursuit is a unit that finished the regular season as the NFL’s top-ranked scoring defense. Dubbed the “Dark Side Defense,” the group propelled Seattle to a Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium. Despite the championship, players and coaches feel the organization lacks proper acknowledgement across the league.

    That collective chip on the shoulder aligns with Murphy’s personal motivation. As the anchor of the interior line, his development is central to sustaining the defense’s elite status. A more determined, versatile Murphy elevates a unit that has no intention of relinquishing its standard.

    This article was originally published on Sports Illustrated as “Byron Murphy II Could Be the Seahawks’ Next Big Payday Waiting to Happen.”