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The Patriots won’t be picking up their option on defensive tackle Vince Wilfork’s contract for the 2015 season, which doesn’t rule out his return on a different deal but could leave the Patriots looking elsewhere for help on the defensive line.

One player that could figure into their decisions up front is Dominique Easley. The Patriots’ first-round pick in 2014 suffered a torn ACL in his final year of college, which helped the Patriots grab him although his knee wasn’t well enough for him to make it through his entire rookie season.

Easley wound up on injured reserve, but Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports that Easley won’t need surgery to repair the knee this offseason. That leaves him on track to take part in OTAs this spring as he tries to show the team’s coaching staff that he can take on a bigger role next season.

He may not be stepping into Wilfork’s shoes as a nose tackle full time, but having a healthy Easley would give the Patriots more options up front in 2015.