When the New England Patriots selected Chad Ryland in the NFL Draft, they anticipated he would be their kicker of the future. However, in a surprising move, the organization has decided to part ways with Ryland after just one tumultuous year.
Rookie Season Struggles
In his debut season, Ryland led the Patriots in scoring, amassing a respectable 72 points. Despite the numerical success, his performance was marred by inconsistency, hitting only 64% of his field goal attempts. Converting just 16 out of 25 attempts placed him last in the NFL in terms of field goal percentage. Additionally, Ryland managed to hit only 45.5% of his kicks from beyond 45 yards, converting just 5 out of 11 attempts.
Training Camp Battle
In a bid to improve their special teams unit, the Patriots brought in veteran kicker Joey Slye during training camp. Slye, who has six years of NFL experience, immediately made an impact and outperformed the young Ryland. According to 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, "Slye outkicked Ryland in camp by hitting nearly 80% of his kicks compared to just 75.9% for Ryland."
The comparison was even more striking when examining kicks from longer distances. Slye converted eight of nine kicks between 50 and 59 yards during camp. In contrast, Ryland hit just three of seven kicks from the same range. These numbers were crucial in the Patriots' decision-making process.
Joey Slye's Journeyman Career
Slye's tenure in the NFL has seen its fair share of movement. He began his career with the Carolina Panthers and then played for three different teams in 2021—the Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Commanders. His tenure in Washington spanned two-and-a-half seasons until they decided to let him walk in free agency, leading him to join his sixth NFL team, the New England Patriots.
The Patriots are betting on Slye's experience and his impressive showing in training camp to stabilize their kicking game. His journey through multiple teams and his ability to perform under different coaching environments might finally find a lasting tenure in New England.
A New Chapter for Patriots' Special Teams
Entering the upcoming NFL season, all eyes will be on the Patriots' special teams to see if Slye can carry his training camp momentum into the regular season. The pressure will be on him to validate the Patriots' decision to move on from Ryland, especially given that Ryland was the final kicker drafted by head coach Bill Belichick.
With the NFL season fast approaching, the Patriots hope that veteran Joey Slye can bring stability and consistency to their special teams. If his training camp performance is any indication, Slye appears ready to take on the challenge.