Should the Giants Draft a Kicker at #5?
The Case for a Generational Leg
Every NFL Draft season, the conversation revolves around quarterbacks, edge rushers, and offensive tackles. But this year, there’s a far more interesting — and far more disruptive — question worth asking:
Should the New York Giants use the #5 pick on a kicker?
It sounds outrageous. It sounds like something no general manager would ever dare to do. But the emergence of elite long‑range kickers — both in college and the NFL — has changed the math.
And the best example of that shift is happening right now in Dallas.
The Giants’ Situation at #5
The Giants already have:
A promising young quarterback
A dynamic rookie running back
A legitimate receiver
A roster that needs trench help more than skill players
Traditionally, that means drafting:
A left tackle
An edge rusher
A cornerback
But what if a kicker could add more expected points than any of those positions?
That’s where the conversation gets interesting.
The Cowboys Have Already Proven the Value of a Super‑Kicker
Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey has completely changed what NFL teams believe is possible from the position.
Aubrey’s Key Stats (2025 Season)
87.5% field goal percentage
97.8% extra point percentage
Longest field goal: 64 yards (third‑longest in the NFL that season)
Three field goals from 60+ yards in 2025
14 made field goals of 50+ yards in 2024 — an NFL record
First kicker in NFL history with 10+ 50‑yard FGs in consecutive seasons
Career long: 65 yards (regular season)
Has hit from 66 yards in preseason
Aubrey isn’t just “good.”
He has redefined field goal range for an NFL team.
Dallas is now:
Comfortable attempting kicks from midfield
Able to score on drives that stall at the opponent’s 45–50 yard line
Winning games because of long‑range consistency
Structuring offensive strategy around his leg
This is exactly the kind of impact a generational kicker can have.
And it’s the blueprint for evaluating whether a kicker could ever justify a top‑5 pick.
Enter Lucas Carneiro: The Most Intriguing College Kicker in Years
Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro is the closest thing college football has to an Aubrey‑level prospect.
2025 Season (Ole Miss)
27/30 field goals (90%)
55/55 extra points (100%)
Longest: 56 yards
3/4 from 50+ yards
Sugar Bowl Performance
Carneiro delivered one of the greatest postseason kicking performances ever recorded:
Hit a 55‑yard field goal
Then hit a 56‑yard field goal
Both broke the Sugar Bowl record
Both rank among the longest kicks in CFP history
Drilled the game‑winning 47‑yarder with six seconds left
2024 Season (Western Kentucky)
6/6 from 50+ yards
Lou Groza semifinalist
Range
Self‑professed 60‑yard range
Coaches believe he has more
Carneiro has:
Multi‑year consistency
Real long‑range tape
Pressure performance
NFL‑caliber mechanics
He is not a novelty act.
He is a legitimate NFL prospect.
Why Long Kicks Are Harder in College — And Why Carneiro’s Numbers Matter
NFL teams know that college kicking stats don’t tell the whole story. The environments are completely different.
1. Wider hash marks in college
College hash marks are 40 feet apart, compared to 18 feet, 6 inches in the NFL.
This creates sharper angles and harder kicks.
2. NFL K‑ball rule
NFL teams can now break in kicking balls, adding 3–4 yards of distance.
College kickers use stiffer balls.
3. College coaches avoid long attempts
A missed field goal in college gives the opponent the ball at the spot of the kick.
NFL misses return the ball to the line of scrimmage.
4. NFL kickers are full‑time specialists
College kickers often split time with academics and limited coaching.
This means:
A 55–56 yard kick in college is often equivalent to a 58–60 yard kick in the NFL.
Carneiro’s long‑range performance is more impressive than it looks on paper.
Could a Kicker Ever Be Worth a Top‑5 Pick?
Here’s the honest answer:
YES — if the kicker is truly generational.
A kicker who can:
Hit 60–62 yards consistently
Hit 95% inside 50
Win multiple games a year
Turn midfield into scoring range
Change opponent strategy
…is more valuable than:
A WR2
A TE
A guard
A rotational edge
A CB2
This is not theoretical.
Brandon Aubrey is already doing it for Dallas.
But is Lucas Carneiro that player?
Not yet — but he’s the closest thing college football has right now.
Should the Giants Take Carneiro at #5?
The Case FOR
Carneiro is the best long‑range kicker in college
He has elite pressure performance
He has multi‑year consistency
He could add 30–40 points to a season
He changes field position and scoring strategy
He makes life easier for a young QB
He wins close games
The Case AGAINST
Positional value still matters
Kickers are volatile
A top‑5 pick should be a decade‑long cornerstone
Carneiro is excellent, but not yet Aubrey‑level
You can often find good kickers on Day 3
The Real Answer
A kicker can be worth a top‑5 pick —
but only if he is a once‑in‑a‑generation talent.
Brandon Aubrey is that kind of player.
Lucas Carneiro might become one.
But he isn’t yet the guaranteed, can’t‑miss weapon that would justify the #5 pick.
Still…
If Carneiro becomes the next Aubrey, the team that drafts him — wherever that is — will look like geniuses.