ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 03: Stephen Gostkowski of the New England Patriots celebrates his teams 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Patriots and kicker Stephen Gostkowski have agreed to a two-year extension, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday. Schefter later added that the two-year deal with the 35-year-old is worth up to $8.5 million.
More details are yet to emerge in terms of guaranteed money, salaries, and bonuses. But the max value of $8.5 million is in line with the top of the market for NFL kickers.
Gostkowski’s $4.25 million AAV ties him for the second-highest in the league with the Panthers’ Graham Gano, per Spotrac. The San Francisco 49ers made Robbie Gould the NFL’s highest-paid kicker when they applied the franchise tag to him for $4.971 million.
Interestingly enough, NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco reported on Tuesday that the 49ers were showing interest in Gostkowski, mere hours before Schefter reported the Patriots’ extension.
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Stephen Gostkowski of the New England Patriots high-fives Lawrence Guy in the first half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Gostkowski’s 84.4 percent field goal percentage (27-for-32) ranked 19th in the NFL in the 2018 regular season. However he ranked fifth in extra-point percentage after going 49-for-50 (98 percent). He went a perfect 10-for-10 on extra points in the playoffs, and 5-for-6 on field goals.
He missed his first kick in Super Bowl LIII, a 46-yard field goal try. But he made two kicks after that, including a 41-yarder with 1:16 left in regulation that effectively put the Patriots’ 13-3 win out of reach.
It’s now highly likely that the Patriots will wait at least one more season before exploring a change at the kicker position. It’s a win for Gostkowski, who waited things out in free agency and ended up with a top-of-the-market deal.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.