New York Giants: Grading the returning free agent contracts
By Matt Clark
K Aldrick Rosas
The New York Giants decided to use a second-round tender to make Aldrick Rosas a restricted free agent. As a result, the Giants can work towards trying to extend Rosas and have the option to match or beat any contract offered to Rosas by any other team.
If the Giants are unwilling to match an offer made by another team, they will receive a second-round draft pick as compensation for losing Rosas. However, if they are unable to come to an agreement with Rosas on an extension, they will either have to pay him $3.3 million in 2020 or be forced to let him walk in favor of another kicker.
The career of Rosas has been one of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. In 2017, Rosas struggled and made only 18 of the 25 field-goal attempts and 20 of the 23 extra-point attempts that he tried that season.
In 2018, Rosas was as good as any kicker in the National Football League, making 32 of 33 field goals attempted and 31 if 32 extra points attempted. He would also set the Giants record for the longest field goal made with a 57-yard field goal against the Chicago Bears. As a result of his success, Rosas was selected to the Pro Bowl and was named as a second-team All-Pro in 2018.
However, in 2019 Rosas regressed dramatically from his 2018 campaign and was more in line with his 2017 season. Last year Rosas made only 12 of 17 field goals that he attempted and 35 of his 39 extra-point attempts.
The is no doubt that Rosas has a big leg and when he is on, he is a major asset for the New York Giants. However, his inconsistency is absolutely maddening given the amount of talent that he has shown in the past.
While the $3.3 million price tag on Rosas seems a bit high, it falls far short of the Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker’s $5.5 million annually as the league’s highest-paid kicker. Additionally, the Houston Texans just extended their kicker, Ka’imi Fairbairn to a four-year $17.65 million deal which works out to $4.4125 million annually.
The grade for the $3.3 million second-round tender tag for Rosas will be contingent on which Aldrick Rosas the Giants get in 2020. If they get 2017 or 2019 then the $3.3 million seems like an overpay. However, if they receive the 2018 version of Rosas, then the $3.3 million for 2020 seems like a bargain.