Round 5, Pick No. 25 (163 overall): Jake Bailey, P, Stanford
Hometown: Solana Beach, California
STRENGTHS
Powerful right leg. … All-time leader in Stanford history with 43.81 career punt average. … Longest punt in Cardinal history, 84 yards, at Cal last December. … Also has a strong leg on kickoffs, with 173 touchbacks on 291 career kickoffs. … Never had a kick blocked at Stanford. … Only had two kickoffs returned in 2018. … Considered mentally tough and competitive for a punter. … Shined at the Senior Bowl with 49.7 average on three punts, with one downed inside the 20. … Touchbacks on 60 of 72 kickoffs in 2018. … Impressive all-around athlete, especially for a punter. … While competing with veteran Ryan Allen for the punting job could also be used on kickoffs throughout the summer in New England to lighten the load on veteran kicker Stephen Gostkowski.
WEAKNESSES
Needs to improve situational punting consistency, especially his plus-50 work. … Had a career-high 10 touchbacks in 2018. … Right-footed, opposite of the punters Bill Belichick has preferred over his years in New England. … According to NFL.com "uses flip-flop technique to pooch, but will put too much sauce on his kick."
PERSONAL
Had three field goals of 50-plus yards as a senior at Santa Fe Christian (Calif.) High School, including a 54-yard long. … Averaged 44.1 yards as a senior punter, including a 71-yarder. … Lettered in football, track and soccer. Santa Fe Christian record holder in the long jump (21-4). … Majored in science, technology and society (innovation and organization) at Stanford. … Three-time All-Pac-12 honoree and two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention. … Pursued his pilot's license while at Stanford. "When you pull away from Earth, there's no feeling like it," Bailey told SFGate.com. … Reportedly dominated elementary school kickball games. … Fine-tuned his mental approach to kicking by watching Kevin Costner's "For Love of The Game" in college at the advice of his special teams coordinator. … Thinks of three words before every punt snap – short, tall and smooth. Reminds him to take short steps, stay calm and be smooth. … Two nights before each Stanford home game he went out for Hawaiian barbecue by himself. … The night before every game watches "Family Guy." … Interned for Dr. Condoleezza Rice as a freshman at Stanford.
BY THE NUMBERS
Punting
| YEAR | GP | ATT. | YDS. | AVG. | LG | TB | FC | I20 | 50+ | BLK. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 12 | 10 | 347 | 34.7 | 56 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | 13 | 50 | 2,178 | 43.5 | 61 | 2 | 9 | 22 | 13 | 0 |
| 2017 | 14 | 57 | 2,586 | 45.4 | 65 | 3 | 20 | 24 | 20 | 0 |
| 2018 | 13 | 68 | 2,996 | 44.1 | 84 | 10 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 0 |
| Total | 52 | 185 | 8,105 | 43.8 | 84 | 17 | 51 | 76 | 54 | 0 |
WORKOUT NUMBERS
| BAILEY | COMBINE AVG. FOR POS. | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6-1 | 6-2 |
| Weight | 200 | 210 |
| 40 Yards | 4.72 | 4.69 |
| Vertical Jump | 33.0 | 31.0 |
| Broad Jump | 117 | 116 |
| Shuttle | DNP | DNP |
| Cone | DNP | DNP |
DNP = Did Not Participate
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
On the surface, this seems like an odd pick as the Patriots traded up for Bailey after re-signing standout punter Ryan Allen. However, it's likely Bailey will be showing off his big leg as New England's kickoff specialist. There is no detail too small to trade up for with Bill Belichick. Mark Dulgerian, NFL Network
