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The New England Patriots may have kicker depth heading into the season with coach Bill Belichick highlighting the possibility of the team carrying two kickers.
Nick Folk and rookie Chad Ryland battled it out at the spring practices, and the position has been competitive, according to Belichick. Folk is coming off a 2022 season that saw him go 32-of-37 on field goals and 32-of-35 on extra points.
Ryland was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. He was one of the best kickers in the Big Ten and made the All-Big Ten second-team. He went 39-of-40 on extra points and 19-of-23 on field goal attempts.
“Like a lot of positions on our roster, it looks pretty competitive,” Belichick told reporters.
Belichick on the kicker battle between Nick Folk and rookie Chad Ryland:
"Like a lot of positions on our roster, it looks pretty competitive."
Said "it's possible" the Patriots would carry two kickers. Obviously a long way to go in that competition, though.
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) June 13, 2023
Folk is 38 years old, but the idea of a competition with the younger Ryland is certainly not far-fetched. Carrying two kickers would at the very least create competition and strengthen special teams depth.
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