Are you against drafting a kicker?

[Hawk Finn]

I should make it clear. I'm not ambivalent against having a quality kicker. I am however ambivalent about the assertion that we need to draft one to have a quality kicker. Because there is clearly NO correlation between kicker quality and whether they were ever drafted. It's pretty easy to make that case using any 3 or 4 year period.

Well said; this is where I stand, as well. I'd prefer not spending draft capital on a K, but of course if the value is there, you take it. I stand by my previous remarks that a quality K will be available off the street.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Hopkins isn't going to be the reason we don't have postseason success.

No - but he, or any other kicker, could be the decisive factor in winning a playoff game.

Think the Falcons love Matt Bryant? That FG he hit was incredibly clutch back in January.

David Akers missed a huge FG in the Super Bowl.

Billy Cundiff's gaffe a year before kept the Ravens from forcing OT to possibly make a Super Bowl.

And the list goes on and on. You can be as 'ambivalent' towards kickers as you want, the fact is.. they are VERY important .. especially late in the season/playoffs when games are much much tighter.

Kickers are far less important than scoring TDs and preventing the other team from scoring TDs.

And the fact remains that the difference between a kicker you might draft early and a kicker available in UDFA is essentially nil.

I guess my point is that, yeah, don't just sign any scrub.... make someone earn it in camp against a vet. But don't spend draft capital on one, because that's just wasteful.

I agree with that.. And again I don't think anyone is saying to take a kicker in Round 2 or 3.. But they should definitely consider it in Round 6 or 7. And I would agree that having them compete with a vet (whether that's Hauschka or anyone else) is also a smart idea

 

[Hawknballs]

normally I'd be against it but there are a lot of kickers cycling out of the NFL right now and others who just aren't very good, so if we can get one of the better draft-worthy kickers I would be all for it.

 

[Hawkfish]

With all of our late picks, definitely draft a kicker!

 

[SE174]

I forgot about this guy because Portland State sucked this last year (and I'm and EWU diehard), but I'd think the chances are high we try to grab this guy late.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2013/04/11/portlan ... trong-leg/

Weird learning his last name is completely different... I've only ever heard Zach Brown. Dude is pretty automatic though and has good range.

 

[HawkWow]

I want the kicker that boots the ball out of the endzone and is 100% on point after attempts.

 

[WestcoastSteve]

It's a no brainer to me, a 7th round kicker has a better chance of making our team than a 7th round anything else.

 

[nbk35zw]

Seattle needs starters from every draft. If you can find a kicker the is rare, you pull the trigger. Even in round 5.