4 Panthers who could be extended before next season

Potential contract extension with Carolina Panthers: Joey Slye – K

This pick will ultimately come down to a position battle during the summer and all-around performance in 2020. After a solid but shaky 2019, a higher level of consistency will be key in Joey Slye possibly receiving a contract extension.

Though he was the starting kicker going into the campaign, he was placed in the role due to Graham Gano’s injury that sidelined him for the entire season. Slye showed great potential throughout and could become the Carolina Panthers starting kicker in 2020 and beyond with an adjustment to some of his issues.

Extra points are never automatic in the NFL. But teams have shown that they are willing to let go of kickers very quickly if they turn in a performance as Slye did against New Orleans last season.

He missed two extra points, along with a field goal from inside the ten-yard line. The misses were even more questionable when one considers he had made kicks of more than 50 yards routinely.

This speaks to the lack of consistency shown during the 2019 season. But to some, it could be dismissed as a series of rookie mistakes.

Slye made 25 of his 32 attempts in 2019, eight of which were beyond 50 yards. With an offense that ranked 29th in converting on third down, the kicker was tasked with producing the goods from long range for the most part.

This led to him ranking eighth in the league in attempts and 12th in field goals made. Making 78.1% of his kicks compared to Gano’s 82.1%. But although the veteran has the edge statistically when healthy, Slye does have a much cheaper contract than the 33-year-old.

This all boils down to Gano’s health in 2020, as well as an accuracy improvement from Slye. If the returning figure is unable to play and the 2019 starter shows improvement throughout this upcoming season, a new contract could be on the table for the former undrafted free agent.