Multiple outlets are now reporting that the Patriots signed Terrance Knighton, a defensive tackle whom the Pats last saw blowing up their impotent offense in the 2013 AFC Championship game while he was with Denver.
— Terrance Knighton (@MisterRoast98) March 31, 2016
This now gives the Patriots maybe the best defensive tackle group in Bill Belichick’s history with the team, a group that is so diverse they can play any front and any style of game. Knighton is a monster inside, weighing somewhere around 350 pounds. Pair him with the equally huge Alan Branch and the Pats have over 700 pounds at the heart of the defense.
Then there’s the first round picks from the last two drafts – Malcom Brown, who just kept getting better as rookie and was their most solid defensive tackle by the end of the season, and Dominique Easley, the explosive first rounder from 2014, who has flashed huge potential despite having his first two seasons end on IR.
Add in veteran Chris Jones, who missed all of last season, free agent signing Frank Kearse and the always-hanging-on Joe Vellano, and it’s hard to think of a better interior group in the Patriots recent history.
I’m a firm believer that games are won or lost in the trenches and additions like this are the ones that get me most excited. The Patriots now have the size to create incredible problems for offensive lines, especially in the middle. They must choose whether one or both of the 350 pounders need to be double teamed, and either way it’s going to open up matchups on the edges for Rob Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long.
The Patriots’ defense took big strides last season, partly due to an easier schedule that wasn’t the murderer’s row 2014 was. But this year they’ll face every top offense from last season, including the Steelers, Seahawks, Bengals and Cardinals. They’ve added some significant pieces to the front seven and with the continued development of their young stars, this should be one of the most fun defenses in the NFL to watch.