The New England Patriots have already restructured their coaching staff for the second consecutive offseason. Now it is time for the real work with an expected overhaul of the roster coming.

Free agency will be a key part of this process. And while adding external players to the mix will undoubtably happen with over $125 million in projected cap space, there are also a few in-house free agents to be taken care of. Following a series of moves, 14 remain in need of a new contract prior to free agency.

Among them is defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale, the next player in our free agency profile series.

Hard facts

Name: Daniel Ekuale

Position: Defensive tackle/Interior defensive line

Opening day age: 31 (1/13/1994)

Size: 6’3”, 310 lbs

Jersey number: 95

Free agency status: Unrestricted free agent (UFA)

Experience

NFL teams: Cleveland Browns (2018-19), Jacksonville Jaguars (2020), New England Patriots (2021-2024)

Following a five-year career at Washington State, where he appeared in 51 games with 22 starts, Ekuale did not get selected in the 2018 NFL Draft. He joined the Browns as a rookie free agent and went on to spend two seasons with the organization; the first on the practice squad, the second as a member of the active roster and injured reserve.

Ekuale was let go by the Browns the following year and was picked up by the Jaguars. After one season that saw him move between the practice squad and active roster, he joined the Patriots in 2021.

Ekuale began his career in New England on the practice squad as well, but he did see regular action as a game-day elevation. By his second year with the club, he had established himself as a valuable rotational piece along its interior defensive line — a role he continued to play through his 2024 campaign. In total, he has seen action in a combined 58 regular season and playoff games, including 42 as a Patriot.

Ekuale has six career sacks and a forced fumble on his résumé.

2024 review

Stats: 16 games (16 starts) | 722 offensive snaps (64.6%), 55 special teams snaps (12.6%) | 52 tackles, 2 missed tackles (3.7%), 2 TFLs | 8 quarterback pressures (1 sack, 1 hit, 6 hurries)

Season recap: Coming off a season-ending biceps injury that limited him to only three games in 2023, the Patriots relied heavily on Ekuale during their 2024 campaign. They had, after all, lost starting defensive tackle Christian Barmore to blood clots early in training camp and therefore found themselves with a massive hole to fill up front.

Ekuale played a prominent part in those efforts, which resulted in the most active season of his career. His 722 defensive snaps more than doubled his previous total as a Patriot (516), and started more games (16) than in his first six seasons (5) combined.

Despite the heavy workload, the 2024 season was a challenging one for Ekuale. While the numbers may not suggest it, he had his issues in a more extensive role. Previously primarily used as a sub pass rusher who only entered the field as part of select packages, New England now asked him to fill gaps on early downs as well — a role the 6-foot-3, 310-pounder is not built to play on a regular basis.

With Barmore absent and the rest of the Patriots’ defensive tackle group unable to step up alongside fellow starter Davon Godchaux, however, Ekuale remained in the lineup. He ended up having played more than 60 percent of snaps in all but two games.

That being said, not all was bad for the seven-year veteran. In fact, Ekuale had the best season of his career in many respects. He had plenty of positive moments in 1-on-1 situations, showed good quickness and burst despite his high snap total, and was one of the best tacklers on the team.

Had the Patriots been able, or willing, to use him in his usual specialized role again, his 2024 season might have a different feel to it. As it stands, however, it was one of ups and downs.

Free agency preview

What is his contract history? Since signing a standard three-year deal with the Browns upon his arrival in the NFL, Ekuale has gone through multiple contracts. While most of those came at the lower end of the compensation spectrum, the Patriots awarded him with a two-year, $4 million extension in 2023. As a result of that, his career earnings stand at an estimated $6.63 million, according to Over The Cap.

Which teams might be in the running? The Super Bowl showed that defensive line depth is never a wrong thing to have, which might create a run for Ekuale’s services. If so, DL-needy teams such as the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers might end up competing for his services. The same is also true for the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals, whose defensive lines will be coached by former Patriots assistants DeMarcus Covington and Jerry Montgomery, respectively, in 2025.

Why should he be expected back? A look at the Patriots’ current defensive tackle depth chart reveals that the team is quite thin beyond starters Christian Barmore and Davon Godchaux — and that is before the uncertainty surrounding Barmore’s health. Re-signing Ekuale would give New England an experienced depth option, who ideally would be used more to his strengths again next season.

Why should he be expected to leave? Besides multiple teams potentially competing for his services, the Patriots deciding to part ways with Ekuale would also not come as a surprise. Not only might the team’s new coaching staff decide to focus on other player types up front, his age — he turned 31 in January — and the fact that the draft is deep at the defensive tackle position also might turn them off to the veteran.

What is his projected free agency outcome? The Patriots will keep Ekuale on another moderately-priced contract, but he will still have to earn his spot on the team.

What do you think about Daniel Ekuale heading into free agency? Will the Patriots re-sign him? Or are they likely to move on to younger players? Please head down to the comment section to discuss.