Not long after the Packers made their kicker decision, the Patriots have theirs ready. The team is moving on from incumbent Chad Ryland, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. 
This will give Joey Slye the win in New England’s kicking competition. The Pats added Slye this offseason, doing so after the Jaguars had cut him. Slye kicked for the Commanders in 2023. This will mark a quick exit for Ryland, who was chosen ahead of Anders Carlson in last year’s draft.
Green Bay cut Carlson earlier today; he arrived as a sixth-round choice. Ryland came to Foxborough as a fourth-rounder out of Eastern Michigan. Ryland beat out Nick Folk for the Patriots’ kicker job last year, with the team dealing the veteran to the Titans. Tennessee has since re-signed Folk after a strong season.
Ryland did make a 56-yard field goal to down the Broncos on Christmas Eve, ending the Russell Wilson era in Denver, but he struggled mightily as a rookie. The 24-year-old made just 64% of his field goal tries (16-for-25), a rate out of step with the current generation of kickers. The Pats gave him another chance but will move on early.
Slye, 28, is a veteran of 78 games. His NFL tenure has included regular season action with the Panthers, Texans, 49ers and Commanders. It was with the latter team that he enjoyed a strong run to close out the 2021 season, connecting on all 12 of his field goals and nine of 10 extra points. The former UDFA remained in the nation’s capital for the past two years, seeing mixed results during that time. He will aim to earn an extended stay with the Patriots beginning in 2024 while Ryland looks for a new opportunity.
Don’t. Draft. Kickers.
Slye is more fly
I think you’re a little too quick to assume the Packers have decided who their kicker is going to be. All they’ve decided is who their kicker ISN’T going to be and that’s Carlson. I still think there’s a real good chance they let Joseph go as well. Matthew Wright could be a possibility, Ryland could be a possibility, Smyth who was let go by Saints is a long shot, and whoever the Titans let go between Folk and Narveson could be a great option. Also wouldn’t be surprised to see them upgrade at long snapper with Zach Tiner who the Bucs let go of. They don’t seem real satisfied with Orzech… for good reason