Why did the New England Patriots design a long snapper?

The New England Patriots already have a long snapper. It’s Joe Cardona. Do you know the two-time super bowl champion, team captain and officer in the United States Naval Reserve?

So it was a bit of a head scratch that New England uses a choice in the seventh round to take Vanderbilt Long Snapper Julian Ashby. The patriots took Ashby with the No. 251 selection, the seventh to loaded selection in the design.

Having a good long snapper is important. However, it is rarely to be seen that NFL teams use Draft picks to purchase one. It is particularly rare when a team has an anchored, trustworthy veteran in this position.

The question was asked at the Patriots Vice President of the player Eliot Wolf, Eliot Wolf, after the NFL design came to the conclusion: “Why did you take a long snapper?”

“Julian Ashby was a player we liked. We felt that the best long snapper in the design,” said Wolf. “Through some of the conversations we had, we felt that he may not be someone who would be available after the disappointment.”

“We wanted to add a competition to the squad again and decided to pull the deduction there late,” he added.

Wolf mentioned the idea of ​​adding “competition” to positions several times during his call. He did not say whether the addition of Ashby was a reflection of Cardona’s long -term prospects in New England.

The 32-year-old Cardona has been with the patriots since 2015 when he was drafted into the fifth round of the Navy. Since then he has been a reliable presence as a long snapper.

Ashby is familiar with the veteran, with which he will soon compete in New England.

“He paved the way for long snapper and had a great career,” said Ashby after he was drafted. “I look forward to meeting him and learning from him.”

Last season Tucker Addington was a reserve Long Snapper at the camp. But with him now on the Texan list, the patriots don’t seem to have a security option if Cardona should happen.