Cory Durden exudes confidence in bid to line up as Patriots’ starting nose tackle
After one season with the Patriots, nose tackle Khyiris Tonga signed a three-year free agent deal with the Chiefs. That means a starting spot is up for grabs on the interior, and Cory Durden is confident it should be for him.
“Going into this year being the nose tackle 1. Just taking that next step,” Durden said in early June of his expectations. “Whether that’s making the Pro Bowl or whatever it is, I feel like, you know, the sky’s the limit now.”
Durden arrived on the scene in a flash. The 2023 undrafted free agent out of N.C. State had bounced around with a few teams, and the Patriots scooped him up after he was unable to make the Giants’ 53-man roster.
Defensive line coach Clinton McMillan said the room has embraced staying present, and ignoring what happened before New England. Durden was a prime example of that, playing in all 21 games (17 regular season; four postseason) and totaling 30 tackles, with five for a loss. He finished the year playing 514 defensive snaps, and most notably tallied 13 of his 30 pressures during the playoffs.
“He took advantage of those [opportunities] last year, earned more, and he’s going to be expected to do the same thing this year,” McMillan said during mandatory minicamp.
The year marked a huge point of growth for Durden. After playing in a combined eight games his previous two seasons, he’d become a staple on a championship-level defense. As captured by NFL Films during the AFC Championship win over the Broncos, he even told Mike Vrabel that the coach had changed his life.
The average shelf life of an NFL player is around three years, so there’s no telling what would have happened if the Patriots didn’t pick Durden up. Now, he says his confidence is high as ever.
“Last year I learned I’m a good pro. Like I’m a very good pro in this league, I have like the ability to be a dominant pro in this league,” Durden said. “I don’t want to say I surprised myself — but I did.”
Vrabel declined to crown Durden as nose tackle 1, but he made it clear Durden’s in a favorable spot.
“I am excited that we had a full offseason with him, that we will have a full training camp with him. He came in and quickly earned the confidence of the coaching staff and his teammates and had a great play demeanor,” Vrabel said at minicamp. “So, I am happy for his ability to be able to help us last year. But again, that has to all be played out in training camp.”
During minicamp, Durden lined up alongside Christian Barmore and Milton Williams.
Other candidates for the role include returnees Leonard Taylor lll, Eric Gregory, and Joshua Farmer. But what’s notable is the Patriots also didn’t draft any defensive tackles, something Durden has treated as a vote of confidence.
For Durden to earn his role, the expectation is to take his game a step further.
McMillan noted Durden’s violence and ability to affect the quarterback as his calling card last season. Such disruption is key, especially because it makes Barmore and Williams’ lives easier.
Versatility allows for keeping Durden on the field in sub packages.
“He’s doing his thing, man. He’s a hell of a player, he’s dominating like he doing,” Barmore said. “He had a [great organized team activities], he’s going to keep doing what he doing. I can’t wait to come back when it ain’t OTAs and put the pads on with him.”
Regardless of his lofty goals, Durden said he remains focused on doing his job and being a good teammate. As he does so, he not only has guys like Barmore in his corner, but McMillan as well.
Durden spent his first three college seasons at Florida State before he transferred to N.C. State. McMillan was a senior defensive analyst for the Wolfpack at that time, and now he’s coaching Durden ahead of what could be his best season yet.
“I knew he was a talented player then,” McMillan said. “He’s bounced around a couple different places but I’ve always kept track of him and I love the kid. He’s got a really cool story, has tools, and he finally got a chance to take advantage of some of those opportunities.”
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