3 recently added Patriots who are already cut candidates

K Joey Slye

One of the most anticipated roster battles of the 2024 preseason will undoubtedly involve the kickers. After Chad Ryland had a rough going during his rookie season last year, it was inevitable that the Patriots would bring in another specialist or two to compete with him for the role this fall.

That's what they did by signing Joey Slye in free agency, who most recently spent the last two seasons with the Washington Commanders.

Although the five-year veteran is far from perfect, he has a longer resume to impress the coaches and has already beaten Ryland during spring practices and field goal exercises. That doesn't bode well for the 2023 fourth-round pick, who has a lot of making up to do to get them to look past his rookie mistakes.

Yet, at the same time, because Ryland is on a rookie contract and Jerod Mayo might believe he deserves another chance, Slye instantly becomes a cut candidate. His reliability is a smidge better than Ryland's, but it is still far from comforting, which might show up when the team returns to Foxboro next month.

Once practice picks up and competition starts to heat up, Slye will need to outperform Ryland to show he is the better kicker for the job. If what has already occurred earlier this offseason, with Ryland missing field goals daily, it shouldn't be too hard for Slye to do.

However, things in the NFL are far from guaranteed, so Slye will need to do all that he can not to lose a potentially good spot on a team by messing up just enough to lose his place.

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