Breaking down 2021 free agent kicker options for the New York Jets

The New York Jets desperately need a new kicker. Will there be any potential solutions on the free agent market?

(Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images)

The New York Jets desperately need a new kicker. Will there be any potential solutions on the free agent market?

Since letting Jason Myers walk in free agency following his Pro Bowl season in 2018, the kicker position has been a major weakness for the New York Jets. Throwing out Kaare Vedvik (1 game) and Sam Ficken (15 games) in 2019, the Jets ranked 31st in field goal percentage (67.9%) and 31st in extra point percentage (85.2%). Behind the combination of Ficken (9 games), Sergio Castillo (6 games), and Chase McLaughlin (1 game) in 2020, the Jets ranked 26th in field goal percentage (75.0%) and 32nd in extra point percentage (83.3%).

Finding an answer at kicker must be on the shopping list for Joe Douglas and the Jets over the next few months. Could they find their man on the free agent market?

Let’s dive into the numbers behind all of the impending free agent kickers that played a significant amount of time in the 2020 season.

Younghoe Koo (Falcons)

Age on 9/1/21: 27.1
Free agent type: Unrestricted
2020 field goal percentage: 94.9% (5th of 33 qualifiers)
2020 average field goal attempt distance: 38.4 yards (18th of 33)
Career field goal percentage: 88.7% (4th of 43 active qualifiers)
2020 extra point percentage: 91.7% (20th of 33)
Career extra point percentage: 93.4% (25th of 43 active qualifiers*)
Career opponent average starting field position on kickoffs: 25.9-yard line (2020 average: 25.8)
Career kickoff hang time: 3.95 seconds (2020 average: 3.98)

*- includes only attempts made since 2015, the season that extra points were moved from 20 to 33 yards.

Daniel Carlson (Raiders)

Age on 9/1/21: 26.6
Free agent type: Restricted
2020 field goal percentage: 94.3% (6th of 33 qualifiers)
2020 average field goal attempt distance: 32.6 yards (33rd of 33)
Career field goal percentage: 84.1% (19th of 43 active qualifiers)
2020 extra point percentage: 95.7% (10th of 33)
Career extra point percentage: 96.3% (9th of 43 active qualifiers)
Career opponent average starting field position on kickoffs: 25.5-yard line (2020 average: 25.8)
Career kickoff hang time: 4.08 seconds (2020 average: 3.98)

Cairo Santos (Bears)

Age on 9/1/21: 29.8
Free agent type: Unrestricted
2020 field goal percentage: 93.8% (7th of 33 qualifiers)
2020 average field goal attempt distance: 36.2 yards (27th of 33)
Career field goal percentage: 83.1% (25th of 43 active qualifiers)
2020 extra point percentage: 97.3% (6th of 33)
Career extra point percentage: 95.8% (11th of 43 active qualifiers)
Career opponent average starting field position on kickoffs: 24.6-yard line (2020 average: 25.8)
Career kickoff hang time: 3.99 seconds (2020 average: 3.98)