How would you feel if we took a kicker in round 6 or 7?

[UpstatePanther]

was playing with Fanspeak's draft simulator and came across a kicker prospect in the 6th round: Zane Gonzalez from Arizona State. here's the "bottom line" from his NFL.com draft profile:

Quote

Self-made, four-year starter who has steadily increased his kickoff distance and range as a field goal kicker. As the most prolific field goal kicker in FBS history, Gonzalez has a good chance of being drafted and becoming an instant starter.

sounds like a young kid that could come in and replace Graham Gano, and build a career here in Carolina. To me, thats worth a 6th or 7th rounder. 

What say you?

For those who are interested, this was my haul in that particular draft session:

not bad, IMHO.

[E CaT PanTHer 2]

i'm all for it

kickers are so vital, but are usually not given enough consideration in the draft unless they're of an elite level. 

[TheMostInterestingMan]

A lot better than if we took one in the 2nd ;) 

cheers Tampa 

[Nails]

Would hate!!!!!

Because if Gonzalez is there in the FIFTH we should NOT risk waiting another round!!!!!

[UpstatePanther]

5 minutes ago, Nails said:

Would hate!!!!!

Because if Gonzalez is there in the FIFTH we should NOT risk waiting another round!!!!!

you think he is valuable enough for a 5th rounder? thats honestly borderline for me. not sure how i'd feel about it.

[Nails]

9 minutes ago, UpstatePanther said:

you think he is valuable enough for a 5th rounder? thats honestly borderline for me. not sure how i'd feel about it.

Without ANY hesitation.  A 4th is borderline for me but if it guarantees no more Gano, then do it!!!

[MV%doe]

Gano hate while not as bad as KB hate, it's still confusing.

Panthers have some of worst ST kickoff coverage units, gano solves that by being one of the best at touch-backs. He's around 75% and over the last three years, plus been in the top three each year.

Gano has a top seven contract, but low guarantees.

Everyone upset at the past season, seem to forgot he had a broken bone in his planet foot starting around week 12- http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/nfl-blog/article120946838.html

 

[juliosantos]

no

[Nails]

4 hours ago, MV%doe said:

Gano hate while not as bad as KB hate, it's still confusing.

Panthers have some of worst ST kickoff coverage units, gano solves that by being one of the best at touch-backs. He's around 75% and over the last three years, plus been in the top three each year.

Gano has a top seven contract, but low guarantees.

Everyone upset at the past season, seem to forgot he had a broken bone in his planet foot starting around week 12- http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/nfl-blog/article120946838.html

 

The differences are VAST.  A 1st Round beast of a man on a rookie contract where we need many contributors vs an overpriced specialist who has been cut by multiple teams and where we only need one-and where finding a better option is not difficult.

Kickoffs should not even be the objective anymore.  Any kicker can boot it in the end zone these days.  The objective is to pooch inside the 10 and force starting field position inside the 20.

The miss in the Super Bowl followed by the miss in Denver should have been the standing 8 count.  The game in New Orleans was the KO.  All BEFORE week 12.

[Untouchable]

I'd prefer to after the draft, still good competition for Gano. If cut, the signing bonus is next to nothing so no harm done. If he wins, big gain towards salary cap. Win-win. 

[pantherclaw]

It wouldn't bother me if we drafted him. It would surprise me if gettleman drafted him.

[Toomers]

I'll be shocked if he's there in the fifth. We should run to the podium if he is. 

[Nails]

6 minutes ago, Untouchable said:

I'd prefer to after the draft, still good competition for Gano. If cut, the signing bonus is next to nothing so no harm done. If he wins, big gain towards salary cap. Win-win. 

I want Gano cut yesterday.  Thank goodness he was his typical awful self in Tampa allowing us to retain pick 8, but competition and surgery won't all of a sudden make he or anyone else clutch.  Palardy was tendered and was also a highly recruited kicker out of high school and did it at Tennessee.  I trust him in the clutch over Gano.

[rodeo]

Go for it, tbh. Or whatever round from 4 on.