The New England Patriots wasted no time turning the page at the long snapper position this offseason. Three days after Julian Ashby joined the team as a seventh-round draft selection, veteran Joe Cardona was released.
Even though Cardona was a team captain in 2024 who offered the experience of 10 seasons and 173 games, the Patriots decided to move on. Why? According to head coach Mike Vrabel it all came down to one simple fact: in Ashby, they found what they believe to be a suitable long-term replacement for the 33-year-old.
“I think anytime that you have to move on from players that have been at a place and that have been a part of successful football teams, it just comes down to our ability to acquire a player that we believe in strongly,” Vrabel said during a press conference last week.
“We just felt like that was the best decision to go with Julian. We’re going to have two young kickers that we’re going to be trying out, and after working Julian out, I think it became evident that that was probably what was in the best interest of the team.”
Ashby was one of the final selections in the 2025 draft, with the Patriots bringing him aboard as the 251st of 257 total picks. An impressive athlete, who posted an 8.53 Relative Athletic Score — including the best ever 10-yard split by a long snapper (1.56 seconds) — he became the first player at the position to hear his name called in the draft since 2021.
Before entering the pros, Ashby spent four seasons at Furman and closed out his college career at Vanderbilt. Along the way, he appeared in 56 games and registered 477 snaps as well as 15 special teams tackles.
While his résumé is impressive, he will have some massive shoes to fill. Cardona, after all, was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots and the last remaining member of the team’s dynasty era.
The timing of his release was therefore also not a coincidence, as pointed out by Vrabel.
“I have a lot of respect for Joe and what he’s done here,” he said. “We tried to do that in the most respectful way possible and give him an opportunity to go and catch on.”
Catch on he indeed did. Less than two weeks after getting cut by the Patriots, Cardona signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins.
His replacement, meanwhile, will get to develop alongside punter Bryce Baringer and whoever will emerge as New England’s place kicker between fellow draft pick Andres Borregales and former practice squad member John Parker Romo.
