4. Nick Folk, K
The 40-year-old Nick Folk was quietly one of the NFL's best kickers for the Tennessee Titans this past season.
The season Nick Folk had was remarkable, helping the lowly Titans offense capitalize in opponent territory all year long. While Tennessee wasn't in striking distance often, Folk made the most of every opportunity.
In year 17, Folk missed just one field goal, going 21-22 (95.5%) for the Titans. 6 for 6 on 50+ yard field goals in one of the most accurate seasons from a kicker of all time. To top it off, Folk didn't miss a single extra point attempt in 2024, going 25-25.
Since the Patriots dished Nick Folk off for a late-round pick, Folk in two seasons has made 96 percent of his field goals, far better than any other kicker. The Patriots, on the other hand, have made only 72 percent of their field goals post-Folk, by far the worst of any team. pic.twitter.com/z9hl4L5PzU
— Fantasy Index (@FantasyIndex) February 22, 2025
Trading Folk has come back to bite New England far worse than expected, and the kicking woes of 2024 may have been a sign to push forth a Folk reunion.
While the Patriots were bad in a lot of different areas last season, the kicking game certainly was one of the worst parts. Patriots kicker Joey Slye went 26-33 (78.8%) on field goals in a forgetful season, as a lot of points were left off the board when successful drives were hard to come by for Drake Maye and the Patriots offense. Slye is a free agent this offseason.
One highlight from Slye came when he hit a 63-yard field goal against the 49ers in Week 4, setting a Patriots team record for the longest field goal make.
If the Patriots want to become a better football team in 2025, they need to capitalize when in opposing territory more often. While the offense can only improve after last season, kicking woes can cost (or win) teams games.
While Folk's stellar performance in 2024 could leave a few kicker-needy teams in the mix to sign him, the Patriots should definitely be one of the teams inquiring after back-to-back seasons with kicking issues.