The first punter and first long snapper came off the board in consecutive picks in Round Five.
The 49ers moved first, taking Clemson punter Bradley Pinion with the No. 165 overall choice. Pinion posted a 40.1-yard net average in 2014 for the Tigers and had just two touchbacks in his three-year collegiate career. He can also kick off. Pinion declared for the draft with one year of eligibility remaining.
Pinion is likely to push Andy Lee, who has four years left on his deal and is set to make $2.05 million in salary in 2015, per NFLPA records.
The Patriots, meanwhile, took Navy long snapper Joe Cardona at No. 166. He was the lone long snapper to attend NFL Scouting Combine.
Per multiple reports, Cardona has a five-year commitment to serve as a naval officer, and it remains to be seen if the terms of his arrangement can be changed. If he’s eligible to play in 2015, Cardona would probably be the favorite to displace Tyler Ott as the Patriots’ snapper on placements and punts.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has long been connected to the U.S. Naval Academy. His father, Steve, was an assistant coach at Navy.