The New England Patriots released kicker Stephen Gostkowski on Monday, as the organization’s free agency overhaul continues.
Gostkowski was drafted in the fourth round with the 118th overall pick in 2006 out of Memphis. His best season came in 2013, when he went 38-of-41 on field goals. He showed particular strength on field goals of 50-plus yards that year, converting five-of-six. He was perfect on all 44 extra points he attempted. In total, he had 158 points that year.
He scored at least 100 points in eight consecutive years from 2011 to 2018. He scored over 150 points three times in his career.
The 2019 season was a difficult one for Gostkowski. After signing a two-year deal with New England in April, he suffered a left hip injury. He was placed on injured reserve for only the second time in 14 years. From there, the Patriots employed several kickers, most notably Nick folk and Kai Forbath.
Overall, he had an exceptional career with New England. Despite the consistencies towards the end of it, he still provided a nice segue from Adam Vinatieri and provided stability for the organization at the position. In a day and age where good kickers seem to be at a premium, Gostkowski was a constant during his time in Foxboro and a point machine throughout his entire career.
The New England Patriots will have to find a kicker in what is a growing list of needs for the organization. As the organization enters a new era, this is just another example. A tremendous amount of roster turnover has taken place within the last couple of weeks. New England could draft a kicker in the later rounds next month. This may be the best course of action for the organization moving forward.
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