Chad Ryland: Everything you need to know

Ryland is the only kicker on the Cardinals' roster after Joshua Karty was waived Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports. Ryland was the Cardinals' kicker for all 17 games last season en route to making 25 of 33 field-goal attempts and all 36 of his extra-point tries. Karty was claimed off waivers from the Rams late last season, but he wasn't made active by Arizona down the stretch. In any case, Thursday's move eliminates what could have been a job battle this summer, with Ryland's fantasy upside in 2026 linked to how well the team's offense clicks with veteran signal-caller Jacoby Brissett at the helm.

Ryland agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Cardinals on Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Ryland was slated to become a restricted free agent but will remain with the Cardinals after he suffered a down year in 2025, when he converted 25 of 33 field-goal attempts and all 36 of his PAT tries over 17 games. The 26-year-old hit 28 of his 32 field-goal tries over 13 games in 2025. Arizona also signed Joshua Karty from the Rams' practice squad in December, and he'll likely compete with Ryland for the starting kicker job heading into the 2026 campaign, according to Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site.

Ryland made 25 of 33 field-goal attempts and all 36 of his PAT tries while playing in all 17 games during the 2025 regular season. Ryland converted a subpar 75.8 percent of his field-goal attempts, landing between the unsightly 64.0 percent mark of his 2023 rookie season and the excellent 87.5 percent conversion rate he produced in 2024. He'll be a restricted free agent this offseason, and while Arizona may be interested in retaining the big-legged kicker, Ryland's regression in 2025 could prompt the team to bring in competition.