The Giants are set to release kicker Aldrick Rosas in the coming days according to a source close with the team. Rosas released a statement early Sunday morning on Instagram to provide clarity to the case. Rosas was arrested in June and charged with three misdemeanors after a hit and run in California. The Giants have since signed former Jets kicker Chandler Catanzaro. The Giants are likely to bring in competition to compete for the starting kicker spot. Here are a list of some guys that could be a potential candidate.
Stephen Gostkowski
This one is pretty simple. Gostkowksi spent 8 seasons with Joe Judge and was one of the most accurate and consistent kickers in the league when he was healthy. His last full season was in 2018 where he had an 84.4 FG%. He also missed just one extra point that season. Judge having familiarity with Gostkowski makes this seem almost guaranteed a look will at least be taken. At age 36, they may look to someone younger.
Ryan Succop
Succop is coming off a season that was cut short with a knee injury. If he is able to heal well and prove to be effective, he could be a guy that is added to the mix. His FG% has not been below 80% since 2013 where it was 78.6%. Succop is 33 years old, where his age is right in between a short-term or long-term option. Either way, Succop has proven the consistent factor with his accuracy, the biggest question is how he returns from his knee injury.
Mike Nugent
Nugent has an interesting story here. He was on the Giants squad in 2017 in the preseason where him and Rosas battled it out. Nugent kicked well in that preseason, but Rosas’ game-winner was what had Nugent run out of town for an option. Not that Rosas is on his way out, Nugent could make his was back to New York and compete for a roster spot. He also spend some time with Judge and the Patriots last season when Gostkowski was hurt. Nugent is 38 years old and would be a short-term fix. His career FG% is at 80.9%.
Nick Folk
Folk is probably the last person I would consider on this list. All I can think about it the struggles in Tampa Bay, and then didn’t kick for two years until he came back last season to kick for the Patriots. This is another guy that would have some connections with Judge after kicking for the Patriots in 7 games. Last season in those 7 games, Folk regained himself going 14/17 (80.4%) for field goals. Besides the 2017 season, he has never went under 80 FG% since 2012.
In this scenario, the Giants will more than likely bring in competition to face Catanzaro like they had with Rosas and Nugent before. It is interesting that three players on this list played for Judge and the Pariots just last season. It will be interesting to see who the Giants bring in as competition. The loss of Rosas can be big, considering his Pro Bowl run in 2018 where he missed just one FG all year and became a pro-bowler. I feel that he had a mind block last season and made it hard for him to come out of it.
We will see if DeAndre Baker survives on the team, considering Rosas’ release could be related to his legal incidence.