Who Should I Start? Nick Folk or Ryan Fitzgerald

Tuesday, July 29, 12:30 PM

The New York Jets signed free-agent kicker Nick Folk to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday, according to head coach Aaron Glenn. The Jets waived kicker Caden Davis on Tuesday, so Folk's primary competition for the kicking job in New York will be UFL standout Harrison Mevis. The 40-year-old Folk will reunite with the Jets after kicking for them from 2010 to 2016. He spent the last two years with the Tennessee Titans and went 21-for-22 on his field-goal tries while making all 25 of his extra-point attempts in 14 games in 2024. As long as Folk doesn't really struggle or get injured in training camp and the preseason in his return to the Jets, he should be the favorite to win the job over Mevis. Heading into his 18th NFL season, Folk has a career 84.3% success rate on 479 field-goal attempts, including going 47-for-70 from 50-plus yards.

Tuesday, June 17, 2:34 PM

The Carolina Panthers' kicking competition is on between veteran Matthew Wright and rookie Ryan Fitzgerald, and Joe Person of The Athletic believes the youngster has the leg up so far this offseason. Fitzgerald went unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft and was picked up by Carolina shortly after. Over his final two seasons at Florida State, he connected on 32 of his 34 field goal attempts and all 72 extra point tries. He did not miss any of his 18 total kicks a season ago. In his first NFL offseason, he continues to find success. "[Dave] Canales said it's too soon to name a leader in the kicking competition, but Fitzgerald appears to have the edge on veteran Matthew Wright, based on how each looked during the practices open to the media," Person wrote. "After a tough first week in rainy and windy conditions, Fitzgerald was 9-for-10 on field goals on the skinny goal posts over the next two practices with reporters present." If Carolina's offense takes a big step forward under third-year quarterback Bryce Young, the team's starting kicker could have solid fantasy football value.