"During the seventh and final round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots made a strange move - trading down for one of the most coveted players remaining on their board. The Patriots sent their final draft pick, No. 228 overall, to the Kansas City Chiefs. They got Nos. 251 and 257 at the tail end of the draft in return. And with the 251st overall pick, they selected Julian Ashby - a long snapper from Vanderbilt."
"The decision to draft Ashby was odd for a few reasons. For starters, the Patriots not only had a 10-year veteran at the position in Joe Cardona, but had just made him the NFL's highest-paid long snapper with a four-year extension back in 2023. Per ESPN's Mike Reiss, Cardona played in 160 regular season games and 13 more in the playoffs for New England. And when you consider the team's addition of another rookie kicker this year, that wealth of experience could have come in handy."
"To Vrabel's credit, the team wasted no time doubling down on their decision. They avoided any training camp controversy by granting Cardona his release in May. It gave their longest-tenured player a chance to land quickly with another team (Miami), and cemented Ashby's standing as New England's long snapper of the future. Clearly, the Patriots love Ashby's age (22), trajectory, and cheap price tag as a rookie who will make around $1 million"
New England traded pick No. 228 to Kansas City for Nos. 251 and 257, then selected Vanderbilt long snapper Julian Ashby at No. 251. The team also used a sixth-round pick on kicker Andres Borregales amid competition with John Parker Romo. Joe Cardona, a 10-year veteran and the NFL's highest-paid long snapper after a 2023 four-year extension, was released in May and allowed to pursue other opportunities, including Miami. Head coach Mike Vrabel implemented multiple roster changes from prior regimes and opted for Ashby, a 22-year-old rookie earning roughly $1 million, as the long snapper of the future.
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