Is it time to draft a kicker in this years draft?

[PatsDeb]

Do we really have to spend a draft pick? My understanding is that kickers can be invited to compete in camp. I don't think we are desperate yet.

 

[ScottishPatriots]

People who act like kickers even like Gostkowski in a down year are easy to replace clearly don't watch much college football on Saturdays, not many good kickers around.

Much better chance your kicker situation turns into a complete disaster than improves if you look at the kicking position around college/pro.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

That would mean using an extra roster spot on a kicker just for kick-offs or having your punter do them, which puts added stress on the Punter..

There were 3 punters other than Pat McAfee who handled kick-off duties on a regular basis. Matt Bosher of the Falcons, Bradley Pinion of the 49ers, and Sam Martin of Detroit. Bosher and Martin had more TBs than Gostkowski. All 3 of them had a higher TB % than Gostkowski. All 3 of them had more Yards per return than Gostkowski.

You and the OP seem to be over-looking that huge part of Gost's game. The part that most people look at and give him credit for in the SB. Pinning Atlanta deep late in the game.. That's something you wouldn't get with someone else..

I'm confused.. I would rather have Ghostk0wski on my roster over AV, but the question the poster I replied to asked was in a hypothetical scenario where you need a 50 yard field goal to win the game, would you take AV or Ghost?

AV was on fire from 50+ last year and has been pretty clutch his whole career, so for 1 kick in a hypothetical scenario I would rather have AV on the field to kick it... but as far as who I would want on my roster as part of my team, it would be Ghost due age and his kickoff abilities for sure

 

[DaBruinz]

I think Ghost's missed the XP in the Superbowl is going to motivate the Pats to look at other options. If the Pats missed either 2 Pt conversion, this would have been the second straight season where a missed XP did them in. The top paid kicker in the league shouldn't be blowing-up seasons with missed XPs. I'd expect to see some competition here in the fall.

Except that, contrary to the ignorant beliefs plied by far too many, the extra point didn't cost them against the Broncos. Don't give any credit the the Broncos D-line that sacked Brady 4 times. Or to the Broncos who intercepted Brady inside the NE 20 or the interception Brady threw on the 2pt. conversion that would have tied the game up.

BTW, Matt Bryant, who only does kick-offs, missed the game winning FG against the Pats.. It happens.. And Bryant was better during the season having only missed 1 FG and 1 XP. Last I looked, Atlanta hadn't canned him.. And his miss was arguably worse.

You, like so many others in this thread, can't be bothered to look at all the changes that have been thrown at kickers the last two years and realize that most of them weren't able to make all the adjustments necessary. When less than 16% of the kickers, of which 2 of them are exclusively FG kickers, are perfect on the season for XPs because of the change, that should tell you that Gostkowski missing 3 early and then 1 in the Play-offs isn't as big of a deal as you would have everyone believe.

There may be a kicker in to give Gostkowski a break, but it won't be serious competition.

 

[DaBruinz]

You are butt hurt for discussing about bringing in competition to light a fire under Ghosts ass.

I wonder if you are Ghost Agent...

SMH. to use your words. "You are butt hurt" for someone telling you how moronic you sound because you clearly don't know what you are talking about when it comes to the situation. You choose to ignore all relevant facts that destroy your argument and hold onto your illogical opinion for dear life..

Hence, you have no credibility.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'm confused.. I would rather have Ghostk0wski on my roster over AV, but the question the poster I replied to asked was in a hypothetical scenario where you need a 50 yard field goal to win the game, would you take AV or Ghost?

AV was on fire from 50+ last year and has been pretty clutch his whole career, so for 1 kick in a hypothetical scenario I would rather have AV on the field to kick it... but as far as who I would want on my roster as part of my team, it would be Ghost due age and his kickoff abilities for sure

The Original question by the OP was:

is it time to invest a late round pick on a kicker?

The one you were answering was this:

You're down 2 in the SB with 3 seconds left. You're at the 30, making it a 47-yd FG. Who do you want: SG or 40-something AV?

The problem is that you can't look at that in a vacuum, which is what, essentially, you'd be doing with your answer.

And no. Vinatieri was 7-9 from 50+ and 10 of 12 from 40-49 during the 2016/2017 season.

Adam Vinatieri: Career Stats at NFL.com

Justin Tucker (10-10) and Matt Prater (7-7) were the only ones who were perfect from 50+.

Gostkowski was 2-4 from 50+ and 9-10 from 40-47.
Stephen Gostkowski: Career Stats at NFL.com