Meet the Newest New England Patriot: Trysten Hill

The New England Patriots have signed defensive tackle Trysten Hill to their practice squad. After Daniel Ekuale was lost for the season with a biceps injury, adding depth along the defensive front makes sense for the Patriots. Defensive lineman Christian Barmore and Davon Godchaux have also been banged up recently as well.

Trysten Hill was a second round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2019 NFL Draft. He had played his college football for the University of Central Florida. At UCF he was part of a team that won 25 consecutive games. He lasted nearly four seasons with the Cowboys. But unfortunately for Hill, most of his headlines were unflattering.

As a rookie, Hill struggled to adjust to the increased competition in the NFL. Despite being healthy, he was activated for only nine games, making five tackles. Hill was in the starting lineup in 2020, but  his season was over after only five games. He tore his ACL while trying to hold up Giants QB Daniel Jones to avoid a late hit call out of bounds. Prior to the injury Hill had shown significant improvement in his second season.

Two weeks prior to his season ending injury, Trysten Hill had made headlines will two incidents in a game against the Seattle Seahawks for which he was fined. The first came on a tackle of Seahawks running back Chris Carson. Hill tackled Carson by the legs but then rolled while still holding his leg after Carson was down. This caused a knee sprain for Chris Carson and a fine for Trysten Hill. In that same game, Hill was fined for a late his on Russell Wilson, although the Seattle QB was not injured.

Hill began his 2021 season on the physically unable to perform list, but was activated on  November 3. Soon after he made more news due to bad behavior. Following a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thanksgiving, Trysten Hill punched Raiders offensive lineman John Simpson. The punch would land Hill a one-game suspension.

Cowboys DT Trysten Hill taking a swing at Raiders guard John Simpson after the game last night

(Video: @espn) pic.twitter.com/Zp7Z8VhrFU

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 26, 2021

Due to a combination of injury, suspension and ineffectiveness, Hill finished the 2021 season having only played in six games. He played seven more games in 2022 before his time with the Dallas Cowboys came to an end when he was waived. The Arizona Cardinals claimed Hill off waivers on Nov. 2, 2022.

Trysten Hill played the best football of his NFL career in Arizona. In six games he had three tackles for loss and a sack. Following the 2022 season he signed with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent. After failing to make the Browns 53 man roster out of training camp he was signed to their practice squad. But on Sep. 26, 2023 he was released from the practice squad.

ESPN’s Mike Reiss had reported that Hill was one of five players in for a free agent audition with the New England Patriots. The others were: Offensive Guards Bobby Evans (Oklahoma), and Reginald McKenzie (Tennessee), linebacker Elerson Smith (Northern Iowa) and defensive end Spencer Waege (North Dakota State). So far, Trysten Hill is the only one signed by the Patriots.

At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds and still just 25 years old, Trysten Hill is a low risk, high reward signing. Much like the signing of Jalen Reagor, this is a player not far removed from being seen as having a lot of potential to succeed in the NFL. Perhaps it will happen in New England.