:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53811337/usa_today_9736087.0.jpg)
Well, looks like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heavily invested in getting some real, thorough competition for kicker Roberto Aguayo. They’re paying veteran Nick Folk $1.75 million this year, with $750,000 guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan.
The Bucs drafted Aguayo in the second round last week, but he has been thoroughly disappointing. Aguayo was one of the worst kickers in the league last year in terms of accuracy, though he did improve as the season went on, and did not hit a single field goal over 43 yards. Aguayo was, at least, nearly perfect on kickoffs. The Bucs hope Aguayo will improve this year, but at least they’re now prepared for the very real possibility that he doesn’t.
Many, many people tried to tell the Bucs that drafting a kicker that high was a mistake. I guess we should credit Jason Licht for realizing his mistake a year after the fact and doing something about it by committing some significant capital to a kicker to compete with Aguayo.