Patriots host rookie punter on minicamp tryout

June 10, 2026 - 04:25

The New England Patriots have added another leg to the mix, bringing in rookie punter Devin Bale for a tryout at their ongoing minicamp. Bale, who handled punting duties for the Arkansas Razorbacks, is the latest undrafted free agent hoping to catch the attention of the coaching staff.

During his time at Arkansas, Bale showed a strong leg but struggled with consistency. He averaged 43.6 yards per punt over his college career, with a net average just over 39 yards. His best season came in 2023, where he pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 21 times. However, he also had a handful of shanked kicks that hurt his draft stock.

The Patriots currently have veteran Bryce Baringer locked in as the starting punter after a solid rookie season. Baringer averaged 47.1 yards per punt in 2023 and was a key part of the team's field position battle. That leaves Bale fighting for a practice squad spot at best, unless he can show dramatic improvement during the tryout.

New England has a history of churning the bottom of the roster during minicamp, bringing in multiple specialists to create competition. For Bale, this is a chance to prove he belongs in the NFL. He will need to show better hang time and directional control to stand out. The Patriots are unlikely to carry two punters into training camp, so the window for Bale is narrow. If he impresses, he might earn a longer look when the team reconvenes for training camp later this summer.