Patriots Draft Bust Scores Game-Winner In Return To NFL
Chad Ryland had a disappointing rookie season in 2023 after the New England Patriots drafted him in the fourth round out of Maryland.
He missed a kick at the buzzer against the New York Giants to lose the game, though that made the difference for New England to land the No. 3 overall pick to take Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft. He also drilled a 60-yard field goal to boost the Patriots to win on Christmas Eve against the Denver Broncos.
The Patriots went in a different direction for the 2024 season with Joey Slye taking over in Foxboro. That left Ryland searching for a new home, which he finally found this week when the Arizona Cardinals picked him up.
In a divisional matchup against the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers, Ryland made three of his four field goal attempts, including the eventual game-winner from 35 yards out in a 24-21 win.
He did one better than his former club on Sunday as the Patriots dropped a fourth straight contest in their 15-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins.