The Carolina Panthers will likely have a new kicker when Week 1 of the 2025 regular season begins in September. Carolina did not re-sign veteran Eddy Piñeiro but inked Matthew Wright to a reserve/future contract in February.
On Thursday, Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer reported that the Panthers will likely hold a kicking competition this summer and add a rookie kicker in the 2025 NFL or the undrafted free agent period.
However, if the Panthers don’t want to wait until later this month to add a kicker, they could sign a veteran kicker just released on Thursday: Ex-Indianapolis Colt Matt Gay.
We have released K Matt Gay.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 10, 2025
The 31-year-old Gay has spent the last two seasons with the Colts after starting his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams. Last season with the Colts, Gay made 83.8 percent of his field goals (31-of-37) and 100 percent of his extra points (33-of-33).
The veteran kicker was perfect from 20-29 yards (9-of-9), 30-39 yards (12-of-12), and 40-49 yards (7-of-7). However, the 31-year-old struggled massively from 50-plus yards out, making 3-of-9 (33%) field goals.
In his first year with the Colts, Gay was much better from 50-plus yards out, notching 8-of-13 field goals (61.5%). Overall, the veteran kicker has made 62.2 percent of his field goals from 50-plus yards away.
When you look at the 29-year-old Wright, he made 93.8 percent (15-of-16) of his field goals last season between three different teams (Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers).
However, he didn’t get many opportunities to kick from 50-plus yards out (1-of-2). For his career, Wright has only made 7-of-11 field goals (63%) from that distance.
Gay isn’t the perfect kicker target, but for a team like the Panthers, who are looking to add some competition for Wright, it wouldn’t be a bad option at this point in the offseason.