Patriots K Chad Ryland: ‘Huge Blessing’ Joining New England
FOXBORO — The New England Patriots raised more than a few eyebrows when they selected Maryland kicker Chad Ryland in the fourth round (No. 112 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Having just completed a rare intra-divisional trade with the New York Jets in exchange for their picks at No. 120 and 184, the majority of fans and media alike were convinced that the Pats were about to procure some much-needed assistance on offense.
Instead, coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots brain trust used their second selection of day three on Ryland, who became the earliest drafted specialist in the 71-year-old’s New England tenure.
“It was surreal. It’s a huge blessing,” Ryland told reporters via conference call shortly after being drafted by the Patriots. “And I’m super thankful for the opportunity and looking forward to making the most of it.”
While only the intentional contrarian continues to dispute Ryland’s ability to be an effective NFL kicker, questioning of whether the Pats needed to use fourth-round draft capital to secure his services is a fair argument. After all, New England was widely considered to have been best-served by selecting an offensive lineman or perimeter pass-catcher.
However, Ryland’s abilities to kick in the clutch, perform well in inclement weather and handle kickoffs were key factors in his selection — so much so that they were willing to trade-up to secure his services.
Then, there was his resume.
Despite transferring to Maryland prior to the 2022 season, Ryland is still the career leader in points scored at Eastern Michigan with 309. In his lone season with the Terrapins, he connected on 82.6 percent of his field goals, including a perfect 9-for-9 from under 40 yards. He also became the first kicker in program history with two 50-yard field goal makes against the Michigan Wolverines in September, where he hit a 53 and 52-yarder — the 53-yarder being the fourth-longest in program history. Ryland also made 39 of his 40 extra point attempts.
Though Ryland will stipulate that kicking on an NFL field is inherently more pressure-packed than doing so on the collegiate stage, his calm, yet confident approach —which has worked pretty well, to date — is unlikely to change.
“My swing is exactly the same whether it’s an extra point or a 55-yard field goal,” Ryland told The Draft Network in late April. “I’m taking my line. I like to take an aggressive line and swing my swing with confidence. It’s gotten me to this point. I trust it.”
In spite of Ryland’s arrival in New England being a new beginning, it also seems to indicate the end of incumbent kicker Nick Folk’s tenure with the club. The 38-year-old has been one of the team’s most-reliable point scorers. making 32 of 37 field goals. However, a handful of uncharacteristic sputters down the stretch had some fans wondering whether the Pats might be in search for a new kicker via the Draft. Ryland’s selection has apparently answered that question.
Ultimately, a fourth-rounder is admittedly a steep price for Ryland — especially when considering New England’s other needs. Additionally, filling Folk’s shoes will not be easy. However, if he performs to his capability, armchair GMs throughout Patriots fandom may be forced to re-evaluate their stance on his selection.
No one knows this better than Chad Ryland, who is apparently eager to prove the naysayers wrong.
“At the end of the day, there’s a lot of work to be done,” Ryland said. “I know that ahead of coming in, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Ryland is expected to join his fellow members of the Patriots rookie class on Friday, when the team hosts its rookie minicamp from May 12-14.
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