In the case of Chicago, Connor Barth will serve in the role. The competition for the job could come down to final roster cuts, but Koetter would prefer for one of the two players to distance himself relatively early in preseason.Aguayo was brought onto Carolina's practice squad in late October when Graham Gano was dealing with a knee issue. Roberto Aguayo, a Florida State signee, is TJK's #1 ranked Kickoff Specialist, and #2 ranked Field Goal Kicker - Class of 2012 - Charting footage from TJK Clinic 1.28.2012. I had a field goal in there but at the end of the day, it wasn't what I wanted. He struggled as a rookie, connecting on only 71 percent of his field goals. They had made it clear at that point that they were willing to move on from even a high draft pick if a better options was available for the team's success.Aguayo missed an extra point on his first preseason kick, hitting the left upright, but he would go 8-for-10 on field goals and 7-for-7 on extra points the rest of the preseason. It should be noted that both the second-year kicker and offseason acquisition Nick Folk kicked into narrower-than-usual goalposts that measured just 8.5 feet in width, a full 10 feet less than regulation uprights. Aguayo buried a career high five field goals — the longest being from 52 yards out — helping the Seminoles clinch a 43-3 victory over the Demon Deacons. I hit it good and it just started to fade. He struggled during his rookie season, making just 22 of 31 field-goal attempts, as well as missing two extra points.
Meawhile, Folk missed at least three of his attempts Friday, according to Taylor Jenkins of the Pewter Report. Obviously, not up to the standards that I want. Roberto Aguayo, , , stats and updates at CBSSports.com. Specifically, the team still has Nick Rose under contract and veteran Nick Novak could also be brought back for what may become an open audition for the team's kicking job.The one saving grace for the 2016 second-round pick was that Folk essentially matched his ineffectiveness. He took a deep breath and appeared to be saying a prayer before turning to face reporters.Jets veteran Nick Folk, whom the Bucs signed in March, would appear to have the inside track on the job as the only place-kicker remaining on the roster. I hit some good kickoffs. The Chargers may have just been giving Sturgis one more look, but the competition is closer than it seemed previously at this point in time. Kicking behind a Philip Rivers-helmed offense that can generate a good deal of points, Aguayo could merit fantasy consideration if he does indeed secure the Bolts' kicking job.The much-heralded 2016 second-round pick from Florida State had a rocky start to his NFL career, making just 71 percent of his 31 field-goal attempts, worst in the league in 2016. After failing to see any NFL action in 2017, he'll look to reboot his NFL career with the Chargers during the upcoming season, though Aguayo will likely face competition on that front. Aguayo will thus be subject to waivers, but it remains to be seen if another organization will take a chance due to a lacking leg.Aguayo is still contending with Caleb Sturgis for the job, but assuming Schefter's prediction comes to fruition, it looks as though the 24-year-old will get another chance to flash the talent that inspired the Buccaneers to make him a second-round draft pick in 2016. "If you're a kicker, you've got to make your kicks. Aguayo, whose 71 percent field goal percentage was the worst in the NFL as a rookie, likely sealed his fate by missing and extra point and a 47-yard field goal attempt in Friday's preseason loss at Cincinnati. Aguayo nailed his first four attempts in the steady rain before missing his fifth, with Folk posting the same mark. The battle between the two kickers figures to go down to the wire, with Sturgis -- who didn't receive any opportunities against the Seahawks -- likely to get multiple chances to show what he can do against the Saints in Los Angeles' third preseason game next Saturday.The Panthers are optimistic that Graham Gano (knee) will be able to handle his usual kicking duties Sunday against the Buccaneers, but just for insurance purposes, the team worked out a number of kickers earlier this week. Gano never missed a contest because of the injury and hasn't missed a field goal since Week 5, so the Panthers decided to part ways with the former second-round pick.
Folk was given a $1.75-million contract by the Bucs, including $750,000 guaranteed, more than Aguayo's entire 2017 salary. Aguayo's problems were largely centered on kicks of 40-plus yards, a distance from which he was only 4-for-10 despite his longest attempt on the season coming from just 43 yards away. Now in Chicago, Aguayo will square off with another former Tampa Bay leg in Connor Barth.Sunday marked the first head-to-head battle between Aguayo and veteran Nick Folk in a special-teams period at the end of practice, with the end result a definitive draw. ''Aguayo sat alone for a few minutes after dressing at his locker following Friday's game. The final straw for Aguayo came Friday, with last year's second-round pick missing a 47-yard field goal and clanging an extra point off the upright in a preseason loss to the Bengals.