NY Jets: 4 kickers to target after final roster cuts

NY Jets target: Randy Bullock/Zane Gonzalez, K, Detroit Lions

Once upon a time, the New York Jets scooped up reclamation project Jason Myers off of waivers in the preseason from the Seattle Seahawks. Myers, the year prior with Jacksonville, had lost his job in-season after struggles with his accuracy.

Could the Jets revitalize the careers of veteran kickers Zane Gonzalez or Randy Bullock the same way they did Myers in 2018?

Both veteran kickers are in a battle for the Lions kicking job this preseason.

Gonzalez has always been known for having a strong leg. The former Lou Groza Award winner in 2016 was drafted in the seventh round by the Cleveland Browns.

Gonzalez displayed that leg strength connecting on four field goals over 50 yards in the early part of his career, but he struggled with his accuracy and was picked up by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 after being let go by Cleveland.

In late 2018 and 2019, Gonzaled appeared to turn the corner in his career. Particularly in 2019, he connected on 31-of-35 field goals (88 percent) with a long of 54 yards. In 2020, he regressed, connecting on just 16-of-22 kicks (72.7 percent) with a long of 56 yards.

Once upon a time, the 31-year-old Randy Bullock was with the Jets in 2015. Gang Green signed Bullock to replace the injured Nick Folk. Bullock was 14-of-17 on field goals during his stint with the green and white.

Bullock, the well-traveled journeyman kicker, who was once a fifth-round pick out of Texas A&M by the Houston Texans, has an 83.2 percent field goal percentage with a career-long of 57 yards. 

Bullock likely beats out Gonzalez in the Lions kicking battle, but either veteran kicker could be an interesting option for the Jets on the waiver wire. They both bring in-game experience to the table.