Former Virginia Tech kicker Joey Slye signs with AFC East team
By Scott Roche
In the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected kicker Cam Little from the University of Arkansas. Three days after the draft ended, Jacksonville released former Virginia Tech kicker Joey Slye and the New England Patriots quickly jumped at the chance to bring him into Foxboro for 2024.
Joey Slye signs with New England Patriots
Thursday, Mike Reiss, an NFL reporter who covers the Patriots or ESPN, reported that New England and Slye were in an agreement on a deal with first-year coach Jerod Mayo. He will enter training camp over the summer competing with current Patriots kick Chad Ryland, who struggled in his first pro season in 2023.
The Patriots and veteran kicker Joey Slye are in agreement on a deal, per sources.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 2, 2024
Slye was released by the Jaguars earlier this week. Competition for Chad Ryland.
Last season for the Washington Commanders, Slye was 19-for-24 on field goals and 32-for-35 on extra points. He was a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals from 30-39 yards. For his career, the former Hokie has made 82.3% of his field goals during his time with the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, and Commanders, where he spent the last three seasons.
Former New England coach Bill Belichick drafted Ryland with the 112th overall pick and in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was just 64% last season going just 16-for-25, with his biggest kick coming on Christmas Eve when he drilled a 56-yard field goal with seven seconds left to help the Patriots stun the Denver Broncos, 26-23.
Just what ends up happening with Slye in New England remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, he will get an opportunity to compete for the job with Ryland. It would be nice if he could land there for the 2024 season, but if not, there's always a team looking for a kicker during the season.
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