The Patriots may be out of playoff contention, but the Jets have put them in a position to be out of the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes.
Nick Folk has been one of the few bright spots of the New England Patriots' 2020 season. But apparently not even his job is safe.
The Patriots recently hosted free-agent kicker Roberto Aguayo for a workout, ESPN's Mike Reiss reported Monday.
Aguayo was a three-time first-team All-American at Florida State and went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 59 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Patriots Talk Podcast: Patriots are now left to face some hard truths | Listen & subscribe | Watch on YouTube
He struggled mightily as a rookie, though, finishing with the NFL's worst field goal percentage (71%) among qualified kickers. Aguayo hasn't kicked in a regular-season NFL game since 2016, bouncing between the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers and Chargers over the next two years before Los Angeles waived him in September 2018.
Aguayo is just 26 years old, however, so a career resurrection is certainly possible. He'd have to surpass the high bar set by Folk, who has made 25 of 27 field goals this year and is on pace for the most accurate season of his NFL career.
New England Patriots
Find the latest New England Patriots news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Boston.
So, why would the Patriots work out Aguayo with Folk kicking so well? Folk has popped up on the injury report this season with a back injury and turned 36 in November, so it's possible Bill Belichick is looking ahead to the future should his veteran kicker not sustain his current production in 2021.
Either way, things don't look promising for rookie kicker Justin Rohrwasser, whom the Patriots drafted in the second round but is currently on the practice squad and apparently isn't inspiring confidence as Folk's successor.
