Did the Patriots make a mistake extending Jake Bailey?

The inconsistent performance from punter Jake Bailey has been mixed within the discussion surrounding the Patriots team so far this season. The conversation seemingly heightened last month when the team announced he was dealing with a back injury that kept him out of practice. That quickly escalated when they placed Bailey on injured reserve, keeping him out for at least the next four games, making him eligible to return week 16 against the Raiders.

Although the news was shocking, it provided some much-needed context to explain why Bailey looked like a different player this season.

Coming into this year, Bailey had quickly become one of the more reliable pieces on the Patriots’ special teams. When Ryan Allen was let go after the 2018 season, Bailey’s selection in the following draft immediately allowed him to make an impact, and he did just that. In his second season in 2020, he earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors and solidified himself as a vital part of the team’s special team’s success.

But his performance declined come 2021. It was a year of three blocked punts and concerns with accuracy, all of which landed him in the bottom tier at his position. Despite it all, Bill Belichick and the Patriots showed their belief in the punter by signing him to a new four-year, $13.5 million contract extension in early August.

With a new contract in hand, expectations were high when this season began. Bailey had made his intentions to improve during the offseason known, making it clear he did not intend to repeat last year’s performance. But it looks like the back injury, whenever he may have suffered it, has dramatically impacted his chance for a bounce-back season.

Bailey’s punts have been lackluster through the first nine games. During that time, his average of 42.1 yards per punt ranked last in the league, a far cry from his stellar performance just two years ago. Amid his continued struggles, a handful of free-agent punters were brought to Foxboro for workouts in October. They went on to sign Michael Palardy, who is now taking Bailey’s place during the four games he will miss.

Knowing that Bailey has been dealing with a back injury may take some heat off those scrutinizing his performance. But with how he has looked so far this year, it begs the question; did the team make a mistake in offering him an extension before it was needed?

When asked about Bailey’s performance this season in mid-November, Belichick acknowledged his shortcomings while also pointing out that all of the issues don’t stem from Bailey alone.

"“It’s been good, and then it hasn’t been consistent. So, it’s not like it’s all bad, not like it’s all good. It’s just — it’s inconsistent, so I think there’s a number of areas we can improve in, we’ve got to improve in. But each person’s got to do — obviously, it starts with the specialist. But there’s other things that we need to improve upon with the punt team and kickoff coverage as well, Like any technical thing, a golf swing, punter or whatever, there’s mechanics. The consistency and execution of it, again … there’s plenty of talent there. There’ve been some rainbows out there, like there always have been. Work harder to make it more consistent.”"

Although he doesn’t let him completely off the hook, Belichick is aware that special teams have not played perfectly this season, either. And if Bailey has been dealing with a back injury for some time, that could explain his lousy performances. Let’s not forget how a back injury dramatically impacted Stephen Gostkowski’s kicking production in New England just a handful of years ago.

In Bailey’s absence, Palardy has not shaped up to be much better. His inconsistent and frequently weak punts have set opponent’s up in good position far too often. So much so, Belichick has elevated Tristan Vizcaino as added protection.

With just one game separating Bailey from returning to the field, hopefully he has been able to recover from the back injury he’s been dealing with. He would be welcomed back with open arms, with the hope of an improved performance overall. However, several players that the Patriots have placed on IR this season are yet to return, making Bailey’s quest back a bit more questionable.