New England Patriots: The case against re-signing Stephen Gostkowski

The New England Patriots did not apply the franchise tag to kicker Stephen Gostkowski which could mean they are willing to move on.

Could the New England Patriots see a new face at one of the two most stabilized positions since 2001?

Well, he’s not as important as Tom Brady, but kicker Stephen Gostkowski has been with the team for 13 seasons, won three Super Bowls and is the team’s leading scorer in franchise history.

Over those 13 seasons, Gostkowski has made Patriots fans get past Adam Vinatieri moving on from the team and joining the Indianapolis Colts following the 2005 season. Ironically, Vinatieri is still playing, and Gostkowski finds himself in a similar situation.

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Does he stick around and finish his career with the Patriots or seek more money and take his talents elsewhere?

By using the franchise tag on Stephen Gostkowski, the New England Patriots have spent $5 million. That may be an indication that the team is willing to move on or confident they can sign their long-time kicker to a team friendly deal.

Knowing the way Bill Belichick operates when it comes to free agency, it could be a little bit of both. If the money is right, the Patriots will re-sign Gostkowski, if some other team really pursues him and offers him a deal he can’t resist, see ya!

The case against re-signing

While Stephen Gostkowski did kick the game-clinching field goal in Super Bowl LIII, his trend of missing extra points and field goals in big games have become a bit of an annoyance,

His coaches and teammates would never throw him under the bus due to his long history of success, but Gostkowski has not been the type of money kicker worth the type of money he may demand. Like they did when they had to replace Adam Vinatieri, the New England Patriots can draft a replacement in the late round of the NFL Draft or even find a cheaper talent some other way.

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While the Patriots don’t want to have to worry about the kicker position, they may be willing to start fresh if the money they would save can be used at another key position.

In summary, it is time to move on from Stephen Gostkowski.

Potential landing spots

The New England Patriots are likely the favorites, but a team that may be willing to pay Stephen Gostkowski some serious kicker money is the Chicago Bears.

Again, Gostkowski has missed some big kicks himself in big games, but the Bears may see him as a way better option than they had in Cody Parkey who missed a potential game-winning field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card game.

Despite missing key kicks in playoff games, Gostkowski usually comes through late in games. His missed kicks have usually not come back to bite the team, but had he not missed a couple of early kicks in Super Bowl LI, the New England Patriots would’ve had an easier time erasing a 28-3 deficit.

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However, it is that experience that a team like the Chicago Bears may be looking for in a kicker. At least he has been there plenty of times. In a league where all kickers are missing easy kicks, it comes down to which one misses the least and the timing of those misses. That’s where Stephen Gostkowski will earn his value.

But, if the price is too high, it won’t be with the Patriots.

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