After a lackluster first day of Free Agency 2022 the Patriots got the Day Two off on the right foot. Literally.
According to multiple reports, Patriots placekicker Nick Folk has agreed to terms on a two year deal worth $5 million, with $2.2 million guaranteed. With incentives the deal could reach amax value of $5.6 million.
Folk has been the picture of stability since arriving in New England in 2019 when then stalwart kicker Stepehen Gostkowski went down with an injury. He made a career high 36 field goals in 2021, and hasn’t missed from inside the 50 since the opening game of 2020, running that total to 55 straight. Folk is also only one of three kickers to make more than 92 percent of his kicks over the past two seasons. These two and a half seasons easily marking the best stretch in the kickers 13 year career (Folk was out of football in 2018).
Given the run heavy nature of the Patriots offense, and their struggles at times to be explosive, having a dependable placekicker who can convert the average field goal almost automatically is invaluable to the Patriots. Folk has practically been the MVP of the team the past two seasons. A sad indictment to some, but points are points. We’ll see if the Pats can convert more of these opportunities into touchdowns in 2022. Until then the legend of “Big Kick Nick” continues.