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Can the Patriots' offseason special team revamp spur them back into playoff contention?

By Pierce Downey | Last updated 9/1/23

In 2022, the New England Patriots' special teams unit was a disaster. Could an offseason revamp make a difference?

Aside from rookie Marcus Jones's game-winning punt return in Week 11, last season's unit failed to execute in key moments and ultimately may have cost New England a playoff berth.

In Week 12 on Thanksgiving, New England's special teams allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown in a seven-point loss to the Minnesota Vikings. In a Week 18 game the team needed to win to make the playoffs, New England allowed two kickoff return touchdowns by the Buffalo Bills in a 12-point loss.

If the special teams had done their job in those games, New England might have finished 10-7 and made the playoffs.

NYHEIM HINES CAN'T BE STOPPED

HIS SECOND KICKOFF RETURN TD TODAY

(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/00IIE3d9Ne
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 8, 2023

New England's punting unit was also awful. The Patriots' average punt distance (42.2 yards) was worst in the league.

The kicking wasn't much better. New England ranked 13th in field-goal percentage, but the team rarely attempted FGs from long distance because of veteran Nick Folk's limited range. The unit ranked 26th in extra-point conversion percentage, also struggling with consistency.

In the offseason, New England wasted little time revamping its special teams. In late March, the Patriots signed LB Chris Board, a career special teamer who head coach Bill Belichick said was the best special teams player the Patriots faced in 2022.

In the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, New England made Maryland's Chad Ryland the highest-drafted kicker in franchise history. Two rounds later, the Patriots drafted Michigan State punter Bryce Baringer.

Ryland, an All-Big Ten kicker, finished in the top 10 in Maryland history in points. Baringer holds the Big Ten record for average punt yards (46). In practice and preseason, Baringer and Ryland displayed why they were among the few drafted specialists in 2023. In three preseason games, Baringer averaged 51.5 yards per punt, a figure that was over 10 yards more than New England's average in 2022.

Ryland shone during training camp but barely got to kick during the preseason, making his only extra-point attempt. He did not try a field goal.

A few days after the Patriots' final preseason game, New England released punter Corliss Waitman, the starter for most of 2022, solidifying Baringer as the punter. The following day, New England traded Folk to the Titans for a 2025 seventh-round pick, making Ryland the starter for 2023.

A unit once plagued with incompetence on kickoffs, field goals and punts has turned into a group with the potential to be one of the best in the league. We'll get a better sense of how well the investment has paid off when the Patriots face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1.