Carolina Panthers: 2012 NFL Draft do-over (6 rounds)

Carolina Panthers 2012 Draft Pick No. 216: Justin Tucker over D.J. Campbell

With their last pick in the draft, the Carolina Panthers took California safety D.J. Campbell. He only started four games in his time with the team.

In Campbell’s rookie year he started four of the five games he appeared in. He finished the year with 12 total tackles and only one tackle for loss.

Heading into the 2013 season Campbell would be battling for the starting safety position with Mike Mitchell. He lost the battle due to an injury and he was waived before the season started.

Campbell spent some time with the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, and Arizona Cardinals but he never played in a regular-season game and hasn’t been in the league since 2015.

The Panthers should have passed on the safety and taken the best kicker the league has had over the past decade. Justin Tucker went undrafted and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens. He quickly became one of the best kickers in the league. In his rookie year, he attempted 33 kicks and made 30 of them and went four for four from 50+ yards.

From 2012 to 2017 Tucker never missed an extra point and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2013 and 2016. He was easily the best kicker in the league over those six seasons.

With all of the rule changes that have impacted the kicking game, Tucker has stayed consistent. While other teams struggle to find a kicker, the Ravens have been satisfied with having the best leg in the NFL.

Tucker has made First-Team All-Pro these past two seasons and has still been the best kicker in the league. Over Tucker’s career, he has made 265 of his 292 attempted kicks hitting them almost 91 percent of the time. He has only missed three extra points in his entire career hitting 298 of his 301 attempts hitting them at an insane 99%.