The New England Patriots made a pair of roster moves Wednesday, adding depth to their defensive line while parting ways with a specialist.

The team signed defensive tackle Travis Shaw and released long snapper Niko Lalos. The move addresses a clear need along the defensive front following the departure of Khyiris Tonga, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason.

Shaw, a 6-foot-5, 334-pound lineman, brings significant size and experience to New England’s interior defensive line. He played three seasons at North Carolina before finishing his collegiate career as a senior at Texas. Across 50 total games, Shaw recorded 68 tackles, showcasing his ability to contribute as a rotational piece capable of tying up blockers and making plays in the trenches.

With Tonga’s exit creating a gap in defensive tackle depth, Shaw represents a targeted addition for a Patriots team looking to strengthen its run defense and interior presence as it builds toward the upcoming season. At his size, he has the physical tools to compete for snaps in a rotation that values length and mass.

In a corresponding move, the Patriots released Niko Lalos, who had signed with the team in March. The 28-year-old long snapper began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants in 2020. He spent most of that season on the practice squad but appeared in six games, recording five total tackles and a fumble recovery.

Lalos remained on the Giants’ practice squad in 2021 before spending time with the New Orleans Saints across the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons. He also gained valuable reps in the XFL with the Seattle Sea Dragons between the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, where he posted impressive numbers: 35 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception.

While Lalos brought versatility and special teams experience, the Patriots have opted to move in a different direction at the long snapper position. Roster decisions like this are common in the lead-up to training camp as teams fine-tune their 53-man rosters and practice squad compositions.

These moves reflect the Patriots’ ongoing effort to fortify the defensive line while managing depth across all positions. Shaw’s addition provides immediate competition and potential upside on the interior, whereas releasing Lalos opens a spot that New England will likely look to fill with another specialist in the coming weeks.

As the offseason program continues, all eyes will be on how the revamped defensive tackle group performs and whether additional moves are in store to support the unit heading into the regular season.