The Patriots traded veteran kicker Nick Folk to the Titans for a 2025 seventh-round pick Tuesday, a source told the Herald.
Folk, 38, had been locked in a position battle with fourth-round rookie Chad Ryland during training camp. Both kickers cleared 80% on their field goal percentage during practices and didn’t attempt any kicks during the preseason. Ryland won out with his stronger leg and the investment the Patriots made by trading up to select him in the fourth round last April.
Folk leaves New England after spending the last three and a half seasons as the Patriots’ starting kicker. He ranks the most accurate placekicker in franchise history with a 91.3% field goal percentage. Folk made 32 of 37 attempts last year, including a long of 54 yards.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick once indicated Folk deserves consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He arrived in New England midway through the 2019 season as a replacement, then beat out rookie Justin Rohrwasser in the summer of 2020 to win his job back.
“Nick’s really good,” Belichick said last November. “Of all the kickers (I’ve coached), he’s probably the smartest. They were all smart, but (he’s) really just professional, totally understanding everything about kicking. Adam (Vinatieri) and Steve (Gostkowski) were probably a little more talented, but just in terms of the fundamentals, the execution, the consistency, Nick’s really good.
“I mean, Adam’s really good, too — you’re talking about a Hall of Fame kicker. Honestly, all three of those guys could be. They’re pretty good. I’ve been very fortunate.”
Folk spent the first 11 years of his career split between the Cowboys, who drafted him in 2007, the Jets (2010-2016) and Buccaneers (2017). He is a direct descendant of the Mayflower and last year opened up to the Herald about the influence his grandfather, a Harvard-trainer doctor who wrote the book on bypass surgery, had on his career. Folk is expected to start in Tennessee.
Ryland will take over field goal and kickoff duties for the Patriots, giving them two rookie specialists to start the season. Sixth-round punter Bryce Baringer won his position battle with veteran Corliss Waitman earlier this week.
The NFL Network fist reported Folk’s trade to Tennessee.