The Carolina Panthers have stability at their special teams positions for the first time in years. This is thanks in no small part to kicker Ryan Fitzgerald's encouraging rookie campaign that brought far more positives than negatives.
And the scope for additional growth lies in the finer details.
Adam Fromal, FanSided's senior NFL/NBA director and resident kicking guru, crunched the numbers around Fitzgerald's first campaign and what more he can do to improve. After some comprehensive assessments, it's where the undrafted free agent out of Florida State takes kicks that formed his primary focus.
Ryan Fitzgerald's Year 2 growth with the Carolina Panthers lies in the hash marks
And there needs to be much more balance.
Fromal discovered that Fitzgerald's Kicker Value Added (KVA) was the league's worst at -8.95 when making attempts from the left hash. In contrast, his efforts from the right hash stood at 5.82, clear evidence of both his preference and the need for greater balance.
The booming leg strength, evidenced by his 61-yarder in Carolina's preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and his ability to come through in the clutch offer reasons for encouragement. Fromal agreed, adding that there is a large enough sample size to suggest Fitzgerald can only get better from here.
"Not only does that present Fitzgerald with an achievable area for growth, but he's also a significant improvement candidate because he's flashed leg strength not seen in a rookie profile that featured a significant accuracy drop-off from 50-plus yards. Even before that gorgeous 61-yard bomb against the Jags, he'd already cleared his 57-yard high with the Panthers by connecting from 59 back at FSU in 2024 (along with four other makes from 50-plus)."
The discrepancy in Fitzgerald's KVA, depending on which hash he is attempting kicks, is quite astonishing. But if the second-year pro can somehow improve to get these numbers a lot closer together, the rise will inevitably follow.
MORE: Every NFL kicker ranked using FanSided's proprietary Kick Value Added (KVA) metric.
Ryan Fitzgerald can break out if hash mark consistency becomes more balanced in 2026
It was a carousel of disappointments at kicker before Fitzgerald's arrival. The Panthers just couldn't seem to find the right answer, leaving general manager Dan Morgan with no option other than to take a swing on an undrafted player with a big chip on his shoulder.
While it's still early days, acquiring Fitzgerald could be a masterstroke if he can continue his encouraging growth in the coming years.
KVA is changing how we evaluate the kicking position. Fitzgerald was ranked No. 19 league-wide in this metric last year, but Fromal expects him to be much higher when the 2026 data is analyzed.
And this all starts by becoming as impactful from the left hash as he is from the right.
Obviously, this is a mechanical issue. The trajectory of his lower body favors the right, which isn't uncommon. These kinks are rectifiable over time, and if Fitzgerald can continue to excel when the lights are brightest, he may even become the cornerstone piece Carolina has craved.
We'll be keeping tabs on Fitzgerald's KVA throughout the campaign. And if this problem has been identified in the building, it would be a massive disappointment if a legitimate breakout campaign didn't arrive.
The life of a kicker is precarious. But with Fitzgerald, the Panthers have hope.
And it's been a long time since they could say that with any great confidence.
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