Drafting a Kicker

[borisman]

With Gostkowski's salary, injury and recent inconsistencies, I would not doubt BB drafts a kicker.
That said, who would you prefer he drafts?
My choice is Dominik Eberle from Utah State. The only negative with Eberle is he doesn't have a "cannon" for a leg but is pretty accurate. He didn't miss a FG within 40 yards this past season and made 8-11 on 40+.
He's also improved his accuracy every season and made 87.5% this past year.

 

[JerseyShore99]

Blankenship, UGA

 

[Gator Mike]

Wouldn't forget Georgia Southern's Tyler Bass, either.

 

[Gator Mike]

Also, this kid can apparently kick a ball over a mountain, so his name should be on the list, too.

 

[captain stone]

Also, this kid can apparently kick a ball over a mountain, so his name should be on the list, too.

Not another Gay kicker...

 

[captain stone]

I'm all in favor of acquiring the best available draft-eligible PK...

...I just don't want to see used an actual draft pick...those are for real players...

 

[borisman]

Blankenship, UGA

Wouldn't forget Georgia Southern's Tyler Bass, either.

Also, this kid can apparently kick a ball over a mountain, so his name should be on the list, too.

I didn't leave anyone off the list. I know those guys and I know Blankenship is the probably the top rated kicker. I just like the Eberle kid for reasons I listed. You guys can list whoever you like. I just think we are likely to draft a kicker, especially since Gostkowski is a Ghost here.

 

[borg]

With picks:1,3,3,3,4,5,6,6,6,6,7,7, pick which round BB selects the next great Patriot kicker.

My guess: Bill will spend significant draft capital to secure the first kicker off the board.
Bill will trade away a 3rd rounder to get a high 4th plus a later rounder pick.
With that new 4th, Bill grabs his guy.
Who?
No clue

 

[jboston19]

I suspect the Pats will draft a kicker in the fifth round with a pick other than the one they currently own.

 

[Gabriel_p94]

I’m definitely not upset about it. It’s a terrible feeling when you can’t trust the kicker at anytime they need three. Especially with it being a year we don’t look like contenders. I have to start watching the kickers this year though which is new for me.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Kicker is a must. We had the game of musical chairs with kickers and it just didn't inspire a lot of confidence for the offense in those situations where you 'could' take a 40-50 yard FG but had were really unsure if you should kick or rather go for it on 4th down.

I wouldn't even be upset with a 3rd round pick on kicker IF it got us our PK for the next 10 years or so like we have had with AV/Gostkowski.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Kicker is a must. We had the game of musical chairs with kickers and it just didn't inspire a lot of confidence for the offense in those situations where you 'could' take a 40-50 yard FG but had were really unsure if you should kick or rather go for it on 4th down.

I wouldn't even be upset with a 3rd round pick on kicker IF it got us our PK for the next 10 years or so like we have had with AV/Gostkowski.

FWIW, since Gostkowski was drafted in the 4th (#118), no K has been drafted with a higher pick, and only one of the 26 drafted kickers was taken in the 4th.

 

[scott99]

Wouldn't forget Georgia Southern's Tyler Bass, either.

That’s the guy I want, powerful leg. Has to work on his accuracy. Was way better in 2018.

 

[jah]

FWIW, since Gostkowski was drafted in the 4th (#118), no K has been drafted with a higher pick, and only one of the 26 drafted kickers was taken in the 4th.

I don't think this is true. Roberto Aguayo, for starters.

Aguayo also serves as a cautionary tale against drafting a kicker high. There's just such a ridiculous level of variance at the position that a can't miss prospect could completely bust in the NFL and there's no real way of knowing.

 

[Gator Mike]

Do we even really need to use a draft pick on a kicker? Are any of these guys dramatic improvements over some of the street free agents?

How about Taylor Russolino from the XFL, for starters?

 

[captain stone]

Do we even really need to use a draft pick on a kicker? Are any of these guys dramatic improvements over some of the street free agents?

No we don't, and No they aren't...

I'll be very, Very pissed-off if Little Billy wastes yet another draft pick on a "Specialist." We need Real Football Players, at multiple positions...and in some cases multiple players at those same positions...

 

[p8ryts]

No we don't, and No they aren't...

I'll be very, Very pissed-off if Little Billy wastes yet another draft pick on a "Specialist." We need Real Football Players, at multiple positions...and in some cases multiple players at those same positions...

Little Billy? Not nice! Check that picture upper left. He's watching you.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I don't think this is true. Roberto Aguayo, for starters.

Aguayo also serves as a cautionary tale against drafting a kicker high. There's just such a ridiculous level of variance at the position that a can't miss prospect could completely bust in the NFL and there's no real way of knowing.

Oops. He was the other exception, and that was a foreseeable failure. [As I noted elsewhere, Gostkowski, Blankenship, and Bass all had 70% conversion on 40+ kicks; Aguayo had 50%.]

But my point still stands: kickers generally don't start coming off the board until the fifth round.

2nd [1]: Aguayo
4th [2]: Gostkowski, Henery
5th [8]: Medlock, Buehler, Bullock, Sturgis, Elliott, Carlson, Seibert, Gay
6th [8]: Smith, Crosby, Folk, Mehlhaff, Bosher, Walsh, Zuerlein, Hopkins
7th [9]: Coutu, Succop, McAfee [K/P], Potter, Freese, Hocker, Butker, Gonzalez, Sanders

 

[Gator Mike]

No we don't, and No they aren't...

I'll be very, Very pissed-off if Little Billy wastes yet another draft pick on a "Specialist." We need Real Football Players, at multiple positions...and in some cases multiple players at those same positions...

I mean, once we get to the 6th or 7th round, I'm not sure there will be any "Real Football Players" who would mean more to the Patriots than a good kicker would be.

I don't mind using a draft pick on a good kicker. Just as long as he's good.

 

[captain stone]

I mean, once we get to the 6th or 7th round, I'm not sure there will be any "Real Football Players" who would mean more to the Patriots than a good kicker would be.

I don't mind using a draft pick on a good kicker. Just as long as he's good.

I'll concede that a 6th/7th-rounder on the Best PK in the draft wouldn't be the worst investment in the world...but only because we have multiple picks in each of those rounds...but not one round earlier...