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Led by Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, the interior defensive line was one of the strengths of the New England Patriots’ roster in 2025. Both remain under contract, as do multiple backups such as Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer and Eric Gregory. And yet, the Patriots making some offseason investments at the position could very well happen.
One candidate for such a move is exclusive rights free agent Isaiah Iton. Let’s assess his situation.
Hard facts
Name: Isaiah Iton
Position: Defensive tackle/Interior defensive line
Jersey number: 68
Opening day age: 25 (8/23/2001)
Measurements: 6’2 5/8”, 277 lbs, 34” arm length, 10 1/8” hand size, 4.84s short shuttle, 32 1/2” vertical jump, 9’3” broad jump, 29 bench press reps, 6.22 Relative Athletic Score
Experience
NFL teams: Tennessee Titans (2024), New England Patriots (2025-) | College: Northern Colorado (2019), Hutchinson CC (2020), Ole Miss (2021-22), Rutgers (2023)
Typically, the term “journeyman” is used to describe NFL players bouncing between teams on a fairly regular basis. Iton, however, was a journeyman back in college.
Initially a no-star recruit out of Pearland High School in Pearland, TX, he began his career at Northern Colorado but after playing in 12 games with three starts transferred to Hutchinson in 2020. While Covid-19 prevented him from appearing in any games for the Blue Dragons, his stint at the Juco level allowed him to meet his academic requirements and find a spot at Ole Miss.
In two seasons with the Rebels, Iton played 23 games with two starts. He entered the transfer portal following his junior campaign, moving to Rutgers to close out his college career. He spent only one season with the Scarlet Knights, but it was the best of his career: Iton started all 13 games in 2023, registering 38 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and a fumble recovery — production good enough to secure him a spot with the Titans after he went undrafted the following spring.
After one season on Tennessee’s practice squad, he joined the Patriots in the spring of 2025.
2025 review
Stats: N/A
Season recap: Following the conclusion of the Titans’ 2024 season, Iton signed a futures contract with the team for 2025. However, he was let go by the organization in mid-April and had to spend the next month without a team. During that time, the Patriots brought him in to their rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and apparently liked what they saw: in mid-May, they signed Iton to their 90-man roster.
The Rutgers product remained there through the early stages of training camp and preseason. However, his 44th preseason snap — 42 on defense, 2 on special teams — proved to be his last of the year: Iton suffered a hip injury against the Vikings in the second exhibition contest that led to him getting waived with an injury designation two days later. He went unclaimed, reverting to season-ending injured reserve.
Moving to IR was a disappointing end to what had been a solid summer for Iton. Steadily increasing the quality of his reps and showing some promise against the run in particular, he appeared to be a dark-horse candidate for a spot on the practice squad if not the 53-man team.
Iton ended his 2025 season with those two preseason appearances as well as three tackles, including one for a loss of yards.
Free agency preview
Free agency status: Exclusive fights free agent (ERFA)
What is his contract history? Iton has signed multiple contracts since turning pro, but his compensation through two years reflects his career so far. In total, he has earned $755,000, according to Over the Cap, with his year-long stint on the Patriots’ injured reserve in 2025 actually his most lucrative stretch so far.
Which teams might be in the running? Teams such as the Ravens, Chargers, Bears, Panthers or Saints are in need for defensive line help, and therefore could take a look at Iton if he makes it to the open market. That said, realistically the entire league might be a possible landing spot: all 32 teams are trying to fill out their offseason rosters, and developmental depth players like Iton in some demand between now and the draft.
Why should he be expected back? Iton showed some promise during his limited practice and preseason opportunities in 2025, and if building on those could compete for a roster spot this summer. He also would provide cheap depth at a position facing some uncertainty due to Khyiris Tonga’s own free agency status as well as the legal issues surrounding Christian Barmore.
Why should he be expected to leave? Promise alone won’t keep you on an NFL roster for long, and if the Patriots feel they already know what Iton can and cannot be, they won’t go out of their way to tender or re-sign him. The fact that they waived him rather than immediately sending him to injured reserve — thus risking losing him on waivers — already suggests a certain willingness to move on.
What is his projected free agency outcome? Considering their present situation along the interior defensive line, the Patriots will be using the ERFA tender to keep Iton in the fold. Of course, the nature of that tender — it is a non-guaranteed one-year contract that is worth $885,000 in his case — shows that his spot on the roster is still anything but safe.
Now it’s your turn to play GM: What would you do with Isaiah Iton? Tender him? Let him go? Please head down to the comment section to share your plan.