Having a consistent kicker on your NFL roster is important. And over the last two seasons, the Carolina Panthers have had exactly that in Eddy Piñeiro.
Even still, a league-worst 2-15 record and a brand-new head coach called for competition at almost every position.
So with a fresh outlook came a fresh leg for the Panthers—who signed University of Missouri kicker Harrison Mevis following the 2024 NFL draft. Known as the “Thiccer Kicker” for his relatively large frame, the 243-pounder was seen as an early challenger to Piñeiro.
Despite having made 90.6 percent of his field goal attempts as a Panther, Piñeiro had his doubters this offseason. Those voices got even louder upon his absences from voluntary minicamp and team organized activities.
There have also been some questions about his reliability from range—particularly in the clutch. While he did come through with a pair of game-winning field goals in Carolina’s two wins in 2023, those occurred within easy striking range at 23 yards apiece.
It was his painful misses from two years ago, in Carolina’s heartbreaking Halloween weekend loss to the Atlanta Falcons, that have left some detractors. Piñeiro failed to hit on the game-winning extra point after DJ Moore’s miraculous 62-yard touchdown as well as another game winner, a 32-yard field goal try, in overtime.
Nonetheless, he remains a consistent kicker overall. Piñeiro’s career field goal percentage (89.0 percent) sits third all-time—behind only Baltimore’s Justin Tucker (90.1 percent) and Kansas City’s Harrison Butker (89.1 percent).
What stood out in training camp was his ability to consistently boot it down the middle. Per The Athletic’s Joe Person, Piñeiro successfully converted on 23 of his 25 attempts while Mevis went 22-for-28.
Rarely do you find kickers that have a combination of great power and accuracy. Piñeiro is more of an accurate, straight-line boot.
He doesn’t offer the power to consistently generate big kicks from beyond 50 yards. In the broad spectrum of things, that’s okay.
So the decision to go with Piñeiro over Mevis is understandable. And now, the former has to prove that he’s worth the new contract he may or may not have stayed away for this spring.
