Pro Football Rumors
After he was unable to earn a roster spot with the Giants last August, Cory Durden settled for a spot on the Patriots’ practice squad. A year later, Durden is vying to become the Patriots’ starting nose tackle, per Avery Hill of the Boston Globe.
“Going into this year being the nose tackle 1,” Durden said of his expectations for this season (via Hill). “Just taking that next step. Whether that’s making the Pro Bowl or whatever it is, I feel like, you know, the sky’s the limit now.”
The Patriots are the fourth organization for the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Durden, an NC State product who signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Durden didn’t make their roster, but after catching on with the Rams, he appeared in four games and played 44 defensive snaps as a rookie. He remained in the organization until the Giants signed him to their active roster in December 2024. Over four games with them, he tallied 10 tackles on 84 defensive snaps.
While Durden was a non-factor in Los Angeles and New York, the 27-year-old unexpectedly earned a sizable role in New England. After the Patriots signed him to their roster before Week 1, he went on to play all 17 games during their stunning 14-3, division-winning regular season. Durden, who made the first four starts of his career, logged 383 defensive snaps and finished with 30 tackles, 17 pressures and five TFL. He added another 13 pressures and four tackles in four playoff games, including a 29-13 loss to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
Durden was on the field for 39 defensive plays in the Super Bowl, outpacing then-teammate and fellow nose tackle Khyiris Tonga (29). When free agency opened a few weeks later, Tonga left to sign a three-year, $21MM deal with the Chiefs. Tonga’s departure should clear a path to even more playing time for Durden, who is in good position to start alongside Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. While he will have to fend off Joshua Farmer, Leonard Taylor III and Eric Gregory this summer, head coach Mike Vrabel “made it clear Durden’s in a favorable spot,” according to Hill.
