CD #94

Cory Durden

Defensive Tackle · NC State

An undrafted defensive tackle who bounced through three franchises before starting for New England in Super Bowl LX.

Cory Durden's road to a Super Bowl start ran through Detroit, Los Angeles and New York before he found a home in New England. After signing with the Patriots in 2025, he locked down a role in the interior defensive line rotation and is now pushing for the starting nose tackle job.

★ First-team All-ACC, 2021 (NC State)

★ Third-team All-ACC, 2022 (NC State)

★ Started at defensive tackle in Super Bowl LX

★ Played all 21 games for New England in 2025 after signing in late August

Path to the league

Durden began his college career at Florida State from 2018 to 2020, recording 68 tackles with 7.5 sacks over 32 games, before transferring to NC State for his final two seasons. He went undrafted in 2023 and signed with the Detroit Lions before stops with the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants.

Career highlights

Durden earned first-team All-ACC honors at NC State in 2021 after recording 31 tackles, 4.5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks, adding third-team All-ACC recognition in 2022. After struggling to stick with Detroit, Los Angeles and New York, he signed with the Patriots on August 28, 2025, and was promoted to the active roster within two weeks.

2025 season recap

Durden played in all 21 of New England's games in 2025, including the postseason, totaling 30 tackles with five for a loss. He started at defensive tackle in Super Bowl LX, a 29-13 loss to Seattle, and enters 2026 in the mix to become the Patriots' starting nose tackle.