
#10 PK · Carolina Panthers
Height
5'11"
Weight
193 lbs
Age
25
College
Florida State
Draft
Undrafted
Experience
0 yrs
PK Rank
#24 / 39
Grade Ryan Fitzgerald
Your grade joins the crowd-sourced Fan Verdict.
On the field, Ryan Fitzgerald grades out as a shaky PK for Carolina Panthers (D+ Performance). That places him 24th of 39 graded pks. Against that production, his deal reads as a clear bargain on the Contract Value Index (A+) — the team is paying below what the play would command. The public read is positive (B Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score. As a prospect, expect these grades to move quickly as a real sample builds.
| Year | Team | GP | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career | ![]() | 17 | 82.8% |
| 2025 | ![]() | 17 | 82.8% |
Length
3 years
Total Value
$3.0M
Guaranteed
$145K
AAV
$993K/yr
The Panthers just executed one of the shrewdest roster moves of the offseason, locking up Ryan Fitzgerald to a three-year, $3M deal that earns an exceptional A+ CVI rating. At just $1M annually for a kicker who profiles as a rotational-level contributor, Carolina secured incredible value in a market where even middling specialists routinely command $2-3M per year. The minimal $100K guarantee shows smart risk management — the Panthers can move on without major cap consequences if Fitzgerald struggles, but they've positioned themselves beautifully if he develops into their long-term answer. This contract structure gives Carolina maximum flexibility while betting on upside at minimal cost, essentially getting a legitimate NFL kicker for backup money. In an era where teams overpay for kicking stability, the Panthers found their guy at a fraction of market rate, making this one of the best value signings across all positions this cycle.
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the A band — a quick read on where Ryan's contract sits relative to comparable money.
Ryan Fitzgerald enters the NFL as an undrafted rookie kicker battling for roster security with the Carolina Panthers. His early returns earn a D+ overall grade, placing him well below the threshold expected even for developmental specialists. For a rookie kicker, the learning curve is real, but these numbers offer limited encouragement. Fitzgerald's 82.8% field goal accuracy sits noticeably below the NFL average of 85.0% and far from the elite threshold of 93.0%, a benchmark set by kickers like Justin Tucker and Evan McPherson. That gap matters — every missed field goal in a rebuilding program compounds roster pressure. There are no standout advanced metrics to offset the accuracy concerns at this stage. His 2025 season trend grades out at a D, suggesting he has not found consistent footing as the year has progressed. Carolina will need to evaluate whether improvement is realistic or whether a more reliable option is necessary heading into 2026. Fitzgerald's ceiling remains unclear, but closing the gap to league-average accuracy would be the first meaningful developmental milestone worth monitoring.
Ryan Fitzgerald ranks 24th of 39 graded pks by performance. That slots Ryan between Andy Borregales (D+) just ahead and Zane Gonzalez (D) just behind.
Graded higher
Andy BorregalesNew England PatriotsD+Spencer ShraderIndianapolis ColtsD+Jake BatesDetroit LionsD+Graded lower
Zane GonzalezMiami DolphinsRyan Fitzgerald has emerged as one of the more compelling feel-good stories of the Panthers' recent season, parlaying an undrafted rookie status into a reputation as one of Carolina's most clutch performers. His resume of game-winning field goals — including a dramatic overtime boot against Atlanta — has generated genuine excitement among the Panthers fanbase and earned him favorable coverage across NFL media outlets. The narrative of an unheralded kicker repeatedly delivering in high-pressure moments is exactly the type of story that resonates with both casual fans and hardcore analysts heading into a new season. While he has yet to accumulate the accolades or contract value that would cement him as an established NFL commodity, his momentum and positive press give him a perception profile well above what his experience level would typically suggest. Heading into the 2026 season, Fitzgerald is viewed as a rising name to watch at the kicker position, with media sentiment firmly in his corner and fan goodwill at a notable high.
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Ryan Fitzgerald is a player on a rookie-scale contract listed at PK for the Carolina Panthers. FanVerdicts maintains four independent grades for every NFL player on an active roster — Contract Value Index for the deal itself, Performance for on-field production, Sentiment for media and fan reaction, and Fan Verdict for community voting. Current grades for Ryan Fitzgerald: Contract Value Index A+, Performance D+, Sentiment B, Fan Verdict pending.
Every grade refreshes on its own cadence as new data lands. Performance recalculates when NFL game stats post; Sentiment updates with new media coverage and fan discussion; Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change; Fan Verdict reflects live community voting on this profile. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) the Contract Value Index grade is computed against.
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