In the NFL, the game is often won in the trenches. That's especially true on the offensive line, but it's just as important on the defensive side of the ball.
Last season, the Patriots saw what happened to their defensive line when their top nose tackle option, Beau Allen, didn't play a snap for them. The result was a run defense that surrendered 131.4 yards per game, the seventh-most in the NFL.
The Patriots have a handful of defensive tackles set to hit free agency this offseason, including Lawrence Guy and Adam Butler. As such, they'll need to invest something at the position to either keep or replace these players. And either way, they need to add another big-bodied run stuffer to help replace Allen.
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The free-agent class at the defensive tackle position is decent this year. It lacks true top-tier talent but has plenty of strong, veteran depth. Here's a look at the top-10 interior defensive linemen with free agency nearly here.