Why Patriots Fans Applauded Chad Ryland After Kicker’s Release
Chad Ryland didn't work out in New England, but he could prove to have a critical role in the future of the Patriots franchise.
New England on Tuesday reportedly released Ryland, who the organization selected in the fourth round (112th overall) in last year's NFL draft. The 24-year-old lost his job to Joey Slye, a journeyman kicker who spent time with six teams between 2019 and 2023.
Ryland's ongoing struggles set the stage for his reported release, but there was a Patriots silver lining to those woes. One of the Maryland product's most glaring gaffes last season was a missed 35-yard field goal with time expiring in Week 12. The unsuccessful boot sealed a road loss against the New York Giants, who picked two spots behind New England in the first round this year.
Had Ryland sent the contest into overtime with a successful field goal and the Patriots won, the Giants would have leapfrogged Jerod Mayo's team on the Round 1 board. And as we learned from the offseason edition of HBO's "Hard Knocks," New York almost certainly would have selected Drake Maye if it had the opportunity to.
So when Ryland was cut, the Foxboro Faithful applauded the draft bust for helping the organization land its hopeful franchise quarterback of the future.
Of course, it still remains to be seen if Maye will be a legitimate franchise quarterback. But the 21-year-old put together a very impressive first summer in New England, so much so that the Patriots might have to consider rolling with the rookie right out of the gate.