It’s not uncommon for the Patriots to continue to tweak their roster throughout offseason workouts and even training camp. Ahead of Mandatory Minicamp – which begins on Tuesday – the team is still looking at the remaining free agents.
On Monday, the team worked out free agent kicker Tristan Vizcaino, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Since going undrafted out of Washington in 2018, the 25-year-old has spent time with six teams mainly as a practice squad player. After playing in just one game for the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, he appeared in six games for the Los Angeles Chargers last year. He’s hit nine of this 10 career NFL field goal attempts, and 12 of 17 extra points. He also recorded one punt last year with Los Angeles.
The Patriots aren’t the only team showing interest in Vizcaino. Pelissero reported he’ll visit the Raiders on Wednesday for what will be his second workout with the team.
If the Patriots were to sign Vizcaino, it would give them three kickers on their roster. Veteran Nick Folk re-signed as a free agent after being one of the best kickers in football in 2021, and second-year UDFA Quinn Nordin returns after spending the majority of last year on IR and the practice squad. Nordin has not been spotted at the two open OTA practices so far this spring.
UPDATE: According to PFF’s Doug Kyed, the Patriots hosted two other free agent kickers, Matt Wright and John Baron. Wright played in 14 games for the Jaguars last year and hit 87.5 percent of his 24 field goal attempts, while Baron has yet to appear in an NFL game.