There was something a little different about Maryland’s Pro Day, which took place on Wednesday. While a slew of former Terrapins players worked out, longtime Ravens tight end and current NFL free agent Nick Boyle also worked out while showing off his prowess as a long snapper.
Boyle had begun the process of transitioning from tight end to being a long snapper during the 2022 season, according to The Athletic. His ability as a long snapper helped him receive a scholarship offer at Delaware before he embarked on his NFL career.
A fifth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Boyle has spent his entire career in Baltimore. He caught 121 passes and four touchdowns during his first six seasons in Baltimore but has just one catch over the past two seasons. An injury limited him to just 12 games last season.
Long snapper is arguably the NFL’s most interesting position. Like kickers and punters, it is an acquired skill that not many people can do. That means good job security for long snappers who happen to latch onto a team.
The value of having a solid long snapper was on display in Cincinnati in Week 1 of the 2022 season. With Clark Harris injured, Bengals backup tight end Mitchell Wilcox was tasked with handling the team’s long-snapping duties late in their game against the Steelers. A subpar snap my Wilcox resulted in a missed point-after attempt by Evan McPherson that would have won the game for the Bengals. Instead, the Bengals lost in overtime.
Given the minimal number of long snappers, along with his experience at tight end, Boyle’s position change should lead to interest around the league, especially during this dry period of free agency.
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Author: Bryan DeArdo
March 29, 2023 | 1:48 pm
