The New York Jets have a gigantic need for a kicker after a tumultuous season where they went through 4 different kickers. A couple of interesting names hit free agency like Greg Zuerlein and Ryan Succop but the newest member, Stephen Gostkowski, is intriguing. The New York Jets could use Stephen Gostkowski, but how much would a marriage between the two look like?
Résumé
Stephen Gostkowski was drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 draft by the New England Patriots and ever since then, he has been one of the elite kickers in the league. Gostkowski is the Patriots all-time leading scorer and he holds the NFL record for consecutive extra points. A 3-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler Gostkowski has been one of the leagues best since entering the league.
Contract
Gostkowski will most likely want to be one of the highest-paid kickers in the league and luckily for him, the Jets have the second-most cap room left in the NFL. Justin Tucker is the highest-paid kicker in the league making an average of 5 million a year, if the Jets want Gostkowski, they’d have to offer something similar. A reasonable deal between the two would be a 9-million-dollar deal stretched over two years with the 5 million guaranteed.
Likelihood
The chances of Gostkowski coming to the Jets are very unlikely considering Gostkowski still has some sort of loyalty towards the Patriots and would probably no come to a division rival out of respect. The Jets have also been penny pinchers this offseason and are not willing to overpay for players no matter how much the team needs them. The Jets have plenty of options to look at this year in the draft with names like Rodrigo Blankenship and Tyler Bass if they choose to go the younger and cheaper route.