Long snappers don't make highlight reels. They don't throw touchdowns or sack quarterbacks. But they snap the ball on every single punt, field goal attempt, and extra point. When they're good, nobody notices. When they're bad, your special teams coordinator has a migraine by halftime. Julian Ashby was one of only seven long snappers drafted in the last decade—a rare honor that tells you something about how the Patriots valued the position when they brought him in.
Here's the reality: special teams efficiency separates playoff teams from pretenders. A bad snap on a crucial field goal? That's a game-changer. A fumbled hold that leads to a blocked kick? Suddenly your offense has to work harder to compensate. The Patriots know this. Mike Vrabel's background as a defensive-minded coach means he understands that invisible positions often determine tight margins. Ashby's draft pedigree suggests the organization believes he can hold up at the professional level.
But draft capital alone doesn't guarantee performance. What matters now is consistency—can Ashby snap cleanly under pressure? Can he handle the physical demands of blocking downfield on trick plays? Special teams coordinators will be studying film, watching for technique breakdown and footwork issues that could surface when the lights are brightest. With Bryce Baringer handling punting duties and Andy Borregales on field goal operations, Ashby is the third wheel that everyone forgets about until something goes wrong.
The Patriots' 2026 roster has plenty of new pieces. Eliot Wolf and Vrabel are reshaping this team from the ground up. But winning football is built on fundamentals—and that includes the guy snapping the ball from 12 yards back. Ashby's job is to make sure nobody has to think about his job at all. That's harder than it sounds.
Based on reporting from Pats Pulpit.