The Patriots traded up for the first time in this 2023 NFL Draft, moving up from #120 overall to #112 and selecting a kicker with their second pick of the afternoon.<\/p>\n
University of Maryland’s Chad Ryland was the player they selected, giving them a potential kicker of the future behind steady veteran, Nick Folk.<\/p>\n
Ryland’s a solid player.\u00a0 He finished his final senior season hitting 19-of-23 (82.6%), including a perfect 9-9 from inside 40-yards, and ended the year with his percentage setting the school mark for players with 20+ attempts.<\/p>\n
He’s also got a strong leg.\u00a0 He hit multiple 50+ field goals last season, including two big ones against Michigan (53, and 52-yards), and a career-long 55-yarder which tied another school record.<\/p>\n
Ryland also previously played three years at Eastern Michigan, where he finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer.<\/p>\n
More importantly, he also appears to be a fairly clutch player.\u00a0 Watching some of his film, he hit multiple game-winners over the course of his career, and made each one look relatively easy.<\/p>\n
He’s also pretty accurate.\u00a0 The vast majority of his kicks were right down the middle, with none of his long attempts eeking just inside the uprights.\u00a0 He’s also really fluid and he makes each kick look effortless.<\/p>\n
As a result, he certainly appears to be a solid addition for a position that, as we know, is an important one here in New England.<\/p>\n
Here’s a look at his highlights:<\/p>\n