Should the Tennessee Titans roll the dice on a kicker in the 2022 NFL Draft

With the Tennessee Titans established as perennial contenders, is it time to take an opportunity on a low-value place late within the 2022 NFL Draft?

Within the NFL, the keys to success are a franchise quarterback, a number of gifted receivers, a workable offensive line, athletic edge rushers, and a lockdown cornerback. Yr in and 12 months out, these are among the most coveted positions within the NFL draft, however one place frequently has been snubbed over the a long time…kicker.

Since 2000, solely 47 kickers have been drafted, and in addition since 2000, no kicker has been chosen within the first spherical since Sebastian Janikowski at 17. The place isn’t essentially the most glamorous nor the most important jersey vendor, however it’s critically necessary.

Randy Bullock was put in place to win or tie the sport on 4 totally different events and made 2 of them on the highway at Seattle and Indianapolis. Bullock completed the season going 26 out of 32 on field-goal makes an attempt and 42 out of 45 additional factors.

Bullock helped stabilize an already messy state of affairs because the kicker for Tennessee, and he was stable when the Titans wanted somebody stable on the place. Nonetheless, with a complete offseason to have a look at the place and consider potential upgrades, is “stable” sufficient for Bullock to maintain his job with out competitors?

Ought to the Tennessee Titans draft a kicker?

Cameron Dicker from Texas is somebody that the Tennessee Titans may take into account late on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft.

In his 4 years at Texas, he was the kicker and punter for the Longhorns and his longest subject aim was a 50-yarder at West Virginia. Not solely was he constantly racking up additional factors (49 of fifty), however he was additionally a clutch kicker with three game-winners.

The reality is that of all of the kickers on this draft, I can simply see him as this 12 months’s Evan McPherson. And sadly for Titans followers, that’s a reputation that also stings simply fascinated with the nail within the coffin subject aim not 3 months in the past.

McPherson was arguably among the best kickers within the 2021 draft final 12 months and the Bengals took the gamble and grabbed him within the fifth spherical. The stunning factor is, that almost all draft providers and draft analysts didn’t assume he was a transcendent expertise, and (within the nicest method) there was nothing distinctive about him.

The foremost lesson right here is Tennessee mustn’t maintain again in any space that would assist enhance them, even when they’ve a man that’s already there and is able to doing the job. If “Dicker the Kicker” might be that distinction, then utilizing one in every of their later draft picks is a big gamble price taking.