5 best moments from the Carolina Panthers’ 2021 season

Carolina Panthers finally found a kicker

To say the Carolina Panthers were mismanaging the kicking position before the campaign would be an understatement. The coaching staff decided to give Joey Slye free rein with no competition in training camp, but poor form and low confidence meant the team was forced to move on from the player before Week 1 rolled around.

The Panthers then traded for Ryan Santoso from the New York Giants, which didn’t end up costing them anything as the kicker lasted just one game before he was sent to the curb.

With all hope seemingly lost, Carolina brought in Zane Gonzalez despite the former seventh-round pick not doing enough to earn a deal at mandatory minicamp.

After an indifferent first game, Gonzalez was lights out from then on. The Arizona State product was virtually flawless, winning two NFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards and proving beyond all doubt he is capable of filling the void long-term.

Gonzalez finished the season with a 90.9 percent field-goal success rate, with 95.7% of his extra-point attempts also going through the uprights. The Panthers have plenty of holes to fill this offseason, but they can relax safe in the knowledge their kicking situation is vastly improved.

Hopefully, Gonzalez can continue his remarkable form in 2022 and solidify the spot for the foreseeable future.