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Eddy Pineiro

K Eddy Piñeiro Chose 49ers Over Falcons

September 13th, 2025 at 9:46am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Multiple teams considered a change at kicker after disappointing performances in Week 1.

The Browns are sticking with Andre Szmyt, but the 49ers and the Falcons both scoured the free agent market for a new kicker. They landed on the same preferred option: veteran Eddy Piñeiro, who ranks fourth all-time with a 88.1% field goal conversion rate.

Piñeiro revealed (via NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco) that both San Francisco and Atlanta made him offers on Monday. He didn’t say why he chose the 49ers, but it’s likely because they offered him a 53-man roster spot. while the Falcons were looking to make a practice squad addition. After Piñeiro turned them down, the Falcons brought in John Parker Romo as competition to Younghoe Koo.

The interest in Piñeiro highlights the quietly competitive in-season market for kicking talent. Due to a combination of poor performance, injury, and the occasional suspension, NFL teams typically combine to use more than 40 kickers every year. Even if one doesn’t earn a starting job during training camp, more opportunities are sure to pop up throughout the season.

As a result, the 49ers’ quick decision to move on from Jake Moody gave them the best opportunity at securing their desired target. If Piñeiro can continue his consistency in San Francisco, he should hold onto his roster spot for the rest of the year.

49ers To Sign K Eddy Pineiro

September 9th, 2025 at 4:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:56pm: This is indeed a fast-moving process. Pineiro is joining the 49ers on a one-year deal, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. He will be in position to kick for San Francisco in Week 2.

4:31pm: Despite Eddy Pineiro exiting the 2024 season as the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history, he did not land a job this offseason. That may be a break for the 49ers, who ended Jake Moody‘s inconsistent tenure earlier today.

Pineiro is set to work out for the 49ers as a possible replacement, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports. No other kickers have been tied to this vacancy, potentially giving Pineiro a leg up. With the 49ers needing to move fast, it should be expected we will have an answer about their Week 2 kicker by Wednesday.

Pineiro, 30 this week, worked out for the Dolphins and Bills last month. With those representing temporary openings, Pineiro would have a more enticing opportunity here since the 49ers are looking for a new kicker.

Best known for his Panthers tenure, Pineiro worked with current 49ers special teams coordinator Brant Boyer with the 2021 Jets. Pineiro kicked in five Jets games in 2021. A better opportunity awaited in Carolina, and Pineiro operated as the Panthers’ kicker from 2022-24. Carolina let Pineiro’s contract expire, going with rookie UDFA Ryan Fitzgerald.

In that time, Pineiro moved into third place on the NFL’s all-time accuracy list — behind Justin Tucker and Harrison Butker. Chris Boswell‘s Week 1 showing in New York bumped Pineiro to fourth place all time, but the latter’s 88.03% career make rate is obviously quite impressive. He went 33-for-35, 25-for-29 and 22-for-26 in three Panthers seasons. This included an 8-for-11 rate from beyond 50 yards in that span.

A 2023 third-round pick, Moody missed 10 field goals last season and two in Week 1. The 49ers moved on with two seasons left on the Michigan product’s rookie contract. Greg Zuerlein also kicked two seasons under Boyer in New York, but neither he nor Zane Gonzalez — who joined Zuerlein in auditioning for the Dolphins late last month — have been linked to this job opening yet.

Bills Work Out Three Kickers

August 31st, 2025 at 9:03pm CST by Ely Allen

For the second year in a row, the Bills are doing their due diligence on kickers amidst concerns with regular kicker Tyler Bass. Bass’s kicking performance in 2024 was about the same as the prior year that prompted the first host of kickers, but per USA Today’s Nick Wojton, there are now injury concerns also in consideration.

According to Wojton, Bass missed most of training camp with a pelvic injury. He was able to be cleared in time for the preseason finale, making three of his four attempts in that game, but there are clearly concerns about his ability to be reliable here at the start of the season.

As said last year, and as if to underline the point, Bass has been nothing if not consistent. In his first three seasons, Bass missed four field goals attempts in each regular season. In both 2023 and 2024, Bass went exactly 24-for-29. Last year, Bass went a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals over 50 yards but missed four from 40-49 yards and one from 20-29 yards.

His rookie season saw him miss two field goals and an extra point attempt in the playoffs, and his second trip to the postseason the next year saw him miss two more extra point attempts. He cleaned it up with a perfect postseason in 2022, though he didn’t attempt a kick over 40 yards, but 2023 saw him miss three postseason field goal attempts, including one late in the team’s divisional round loss to the Chiefs. He turned it around again in 2024, going a perfect 6-for-6 in the postseason, including two from beyond 50 yards.

With injuries serving as a potential hindrance to Bass starting the regular season, the team hosted three free agent kickers — up one from last year. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, Eddy Pineiro, Zane Gonzalez, and Greg Joseph came in to work out with the Bills.

Gonzalez has been around the longest of the three, getting drafted in the seventh round by the Browns in 2017. Gonzalez appeared in six games for the Commanders in 2024 but hadn’t appeared in a game before that since the 2021 season.

Joseph had three straight seasons with the Vikings from 2021-23, but the team allowed him to walk in free agency after watching him struggle with accuracy issues. Last year, Joseph appeared in eight games with three different teams; he kicked in six games with the Giants and a game apiece with the Commanders and Jets, going 16-for-20 overall.

Pineiro has been the Panthers’ primary kicker for each of the past three seasons. He’s been impressive as a field goal kicker, going 33-for-35 in his first year with the team and 5-for-7 from beyond 50 yards in his second year with the team. His biggest struggle has oddly been with extra points. During his time in Carolina, Pineiro has missed seven extra point attempts.

While Bass has had his struggles at times in Buffalo, it’s clear that none of the options visiting this weekend are clear upgrades over the 28-year-old. If Bass ends up needing to miss any time due to his pelvis injury, though, look for one of the veteran kickers to land on the practice squad in Buffalo, so they can be called up as a standard gameday elevation, if needed.

Dolphins Set 53-Man Roster, Begin Search For Kicker

August 26th, 2025 at 9:39pm CST by Ely Allen

The Dolphins got their roster down to 53 players this afternoon and, in the process, officially placed kicker Jason Sanders on IR. Here are the rest of the team’s moves:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Waived (with injury settlement):

Placed on IR (designated for return):

Placed on reserve/PUP:

In four seasons with the team, Eichenberg has started at every position on the offensive line. The Dolphins will miss his versatility while he’s out, but head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed recently that Eichenberg’s injury is not a season-ending one.

Sanders’ hip injury landed him on injured reserve, meaning Miami will be without him for at least the first month of the season. To deal with his absence, the Dolphins hosted four veteran kickers — Zane Gonzalez, Greg Joseph, Riley Patterson, and Eddy Pineiro — for tryouts today, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Besides that, there weren’t many surprises in the cuts today. Tindall had been a core special teamer for each of his first three years in Miami but may have to find his way to the field through the practice squad. According to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, Murphy had a really strong summer with the team and should be back on the practice squad, as long as he clears waivers.

K Eddy Pineiro Visits Dolphins

August 26th, 2025 at 11:57am CST by Adam La Rose

The Dolphins find themselves in need of a kicker for the start of the campaign. In addition to today’s roster cuts, the team is in the process of seeking out a temporary Jason Sanders fill-in.

As Sanders recovers from a hip injury, another veteran has received a look. Miami hosted Eddy Pineiro today for a workout, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. He is among the top options still on the market at the kicker position.

Sanders has not missed a game in his seven-year Dolphins career. With a reported recovery timeline of four to five weeks, though, an absence spanning at least a few regular season contests will be in store. Miami is thus in need of an expereinced contributor capable of handling kicking duties in September. Pineiro would certainly fit the bill as a veteran of 70 games.

The former Bear and Jet worked as the Panthers’ kicker from 2022-24. Over that span, he connected on 80 of 90 field goal attempts – including eight of 11 kicks from beyond 50 yards. Pineiro missed seven extra point attempts with Carolina, something which informed the team’s decision to move on this offseason. Still, he would be expected to serve as an effective kicking option provided a deal gets struck.

Of course, a strong showing with the Dolphins would be key in helping Pineiro land another gig for 2025 once Sanders – who is under contract for another two years – is healthy. Miami will likely wait until cuts are finished and the process of forming its practice squad takes place beginning tomorrow before a signing takes place. If no agreement is reached following this workout, the Dolphins will need to look elsewhere on the free agent market.

FA Notes: Bucs, Mack, Dolphins, Holland, Panthers, Titans, Giants, Bills, Falcons

March 7th, 2025 at 2:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers did not see their Joe Tryon-Shoyinka first-round pick pay off, and the 2021 draftee is close to hitting free agency. As the Bucs prepares a pass-rushing plan for 2025, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler connects Khalil Mack to the team. Also mentioning the Bears (a previously noted Mack suitor), Fowler notes the Bucs are looking for pass-rushing help. The team has YaYa Diaby under contract for two more seasons, but it has struggled to find a complementary piece since Shaquil Barrett began to decline post-Achilles surgery. Anthony Nelson, who posted four sacks last season, is nearing free agency as well.

While the Bucs have D-line regulars Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, they will need to look for a second OLB starter. Mack rebounded from an injury-marred 2021 season by starting all but one game in three Chargers years. He soared to 17.5 sacks in 2023 but saw his usage rate drop and his sack total along with it (to six) in 2024. Mack, however, has been a durable player and one of this era’s best edge rushers. Although he considered retirement this offseason, the Chargers want him back. The 34-year-old’s market will be interesting.

Here is the latest from the free agent market:

  • A player who will command more in total than Mack, Jevon Holland is likely this year’s top safety available. PFR’s No. 6 free agent, Holland escaped the franchise tag deadline and may be poised to follow Robert Hunt and Christian Wilkins out of Miami. The Panthers and Titans are expected to show interest in the four-year Dolphins starter, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes. Holland’s market is likely to stretch past $15MM per year and could reach $20MM AAV, Wolfe adds. Antoine Winfield Jr. is the highest-paid safety, at $21MM per annum; no one else has reached $20MM. The Dolphins are still interested, but the former second-rounder will carry a robust market. If Holland leaves, the Dolphins would need two new safety starters; Jordan Poyer is not expected back, per Wolfe.
  • The Giants are bracing to lose Azeez Ojulari in free agency, the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy writes. Considering their investments in Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, it has looked for months like Ojulari would depart. Despite an extensive injury history, Ojulari has been productive when available. He registered 22 sacks on his rookie deal, including six last season as he filled in for an injured Thibodeaux. After holding onto Ojulari at the deadline, the Giants would only recoup a compensatory pick — depending on the team’s FA activity — once he leaves.
  • The Falcons finished 31st in sacks last season, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter notes they are doing heavy research on defense in the draft. This comes after Atlanta’s effort to trade back into Round 1 for a defender, after the surprising Michael Penix Jr. pick, failed. As the team changes DCs for a third straight year, Fowler adds it is expected to also pursue defensive upgrades in free agency. The Falcons are expected to let Matt Judon hit the market, and Ledbetter adds fellow OLB Lorenzo Carter is also likely to hit free agency. A pass-rushing overhaul, as Grady Jarrett may be on the trade block, may be afoot in Atlanta.
  • Count the Panthers as a team also readying to bolster its defense in free agency, Fowler adds. Carolina fell from fourth in total defense to 32nd last season, and while they are again retaining DC Ejiro Evero, the DC should have more to work with in 2025. After Carolina traded Burns and did not do much to replace him, it is safe to expect a pass-rushing pursuit to commence. Safety Xavier Woods will be among the Panthers who will test the market next week, The Athletic’s Joe Person tweets. He will join kicker Eddy Pineiro in doing so.
  • Preston Smith has lingered in free agency for a bit, after his Steelers release, but Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes the Bills are believed to have interest. Although Smith (4.5 sacks last season) signed two healthy Packers contracts, it will not take too much to land the 32-year-old EDGE after he disappointed as a Steelers deadline addition.

Panthers Re-Sign LS J.J. Jansen

February 14th, 2025 at 11:57am CST by Adam La Rose

J.J. Jansen‘s career will continue for at least one more season. The longtime Panthers long snapper agreed to another new deal on Friday, per an announcement from his agency.

Jansen has played 260 games in his career, comfortably topping the list in that department in franchise history. That also places him in a tie (with Don Mulbach) for first amongst pure long snappers in the NFL record books. The 39-year has been in Carolina since arriving via trade in 2009, never missing a contest during that span.

The Panthers inked Jansen to a five-year, $5.48MM deal in 2016; that pact proved to be a worthwhile investment from the team’s perspective. Since that contract expired, the Notre Dame product has played on a series of one-year pacts, and this latest one will be his sixth in a row on that front. Joe Person of The Athletic recently predicted a new Jansen commitment was likely (subscription required), so this news comes as little surprise.

Trey Junkin spent most of his career (which spanned 281 games) as a long snapper, but his early years also included time spent as a linebacker and tight end. Jansen could nevertheless continue to approach his games played mark in 2025; another new pact next offseason would put him in line to break the LS record for games played in 2026. For now, though, he will prepare for a 17th campaign in Carolina.

The Panthers also have free agent decisions to make on punter Johnny Hekker and kicker Eddy Pineiro since they are both pending free agents. Person predicts Pineiro will depart on the open market, a move foreshadowed to an extent earlier this week when Matthew Wright signed a futures contract. As for Hekker, the Panthers could opt for a younger replacement but Person writes the 35-year-old is still in contention for a new deal. Regardless of how the rest of the team’s special teams battery shakes out, Jansen will yet again handle snapping duties.

Panthers K Eddy Pineiro Absent From OTAs

May 20th, 2024 at 3:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

Absences around the NFL with respect to offseason workouts receives attention at a number of positions, but kicker is generally not one of them. In the case of Eddy Pineiro, though, the start of Panthers OTAs marked the next step in his decision to remain away from the team.

Pineiro has been absent throughout all of Carolina’s offseason, program, per Joe Person of The Athletic (subscription required). One year remains on his contract, and he is due to make $2MM in 2024. That falls well short of the top of the kicker market, and Pineiro will aim to land a raise on a new deal.

The 28-year-old began his NFL career with the Raiders, but his debut came as a member of the Bears. His Chicago campaign in 2019 was strong in terms of both field goals (23-of-28) and extra point attempts (27-of-29), but he did not see the field the following year. In 2021, Pineiro kicked for the Jets following an unsuccessful attempt to land the gig in Washington.

That was followed by a one-year Panthers deal signed in August 2022. Pineiro followed special teams coordinator Chris Tabor to Carolina after working alongside him in Chicago. The move allowed him to fill in for the injured Zane Gonzlez, and it proved to be an effective one for team and player. Pineiro connected on all but two of his field goal attempts and two of his extra point kicks in 2022.

As a result, the Panthers made the unsurprising decision to retain the Florida product on a two-year accord. Last year, Pineiro saw his field goal (86.2%) and extra point (85%) accuracy dip, although overall his Panthers tenure has seen him remain one of the league’s most accurate kickers. Eight of Pineiro’s counterparts average at least $5MM per season on their respective deals, and he could be attempting to reach that level of compensation or at least another extension which moves him closer to the top 10.

Of course, the Panthers do have another kicker on their offseason roster. The team signed Harrison Mevis as a UDFA last month, and he is now in place to handle all kicking duties given Pineiro’s ongoing absence. The position will be one to monitor as the offseason progresses.

Panthers Sign UDFA Missouri K Harrison Mevis

April 28th, 2024 at 6:34pm CST by Ely Allen

After the draft this weekend, the Panthers made the call to bring in some competition for their specialists group. Specifically, the team made the call to sign undrafted free agent kicker Harrison Mevis or, as he was better known at Missouri, the “Thicker Kicker,” according to Joe Person of The Athletic.

Mevis, earning his nickname due to his 5-foot-11, 243 pound stature, served as the Tigers’ primary kicker for the last four years. Over his four-year collegiate career, Mevis made 147 of 148 extra point attempts while converting 86 of 103 (83.5%) of his field goals attempts.

He gained popularity after his first two seasons with the team, in which he made all 69 extra points that he attempted and missed only five of 45 field goal attempts. Over his final two years in Columbia, though, Mevis missed six kicks in each season. Some of his recent struggles with accuracy came from the team’s expanded trust in his range. Mevis was known for his big leg, making 12 successful kicks over 50 yards. He even booted a game-winning 61-yarder as time expired to avoid overtime and walk off a ranked Kansas State team in his senior year.

In Carolina, he arrives to provide competition to the Panthers’ kicker of the past two years, Eddy Pineiro. Pineiro is entering the second year of a two-year contract he earned after converting 33 of 35 field goal attempts in his first season with the team in 2022. Pineiro has a conversion percentage of 89 in his career and is known for having a big leg himself, topping out at 56 yards in the NFL. After starting his career a perfect five-for-five from over 50 yards, Carolina tested him this year, and he responded by making five-of-seven from that distance.

Still, after seeing Pineiro miss four field goals last year and five extra points over the last two, it appears they find it useful to bring in a bit of competition. Pineiro reportedly was not in attendance for Carolina’s voluntary minicamp last week, per Person, so bringing in some added competition may be intended to light a fire under Pineiro and get him back and working on his craft.

Not only is Mevis being signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent, though, but he’s also being signed to a multi-year deal. So, it appears that he will get a real chance to earn the kicking job. Regardless, Mevis will come into camp looking to show the NFL that he can kick in the big leagues.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/8/23

August 8th, 2023 at 8:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: WR Johnny King
  • Waived: T Chim Okorafor
  • Activated from active/PUP list: WR Devon Allen

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Waived/injured: CB Andrew Whitaker

Washington Commanders

Flowers, who agreed to terms with the Patriots earlier today after a workout, suffered a foot injury in October of last season. That setback cut short a Dolphins run after four games. Flowers, who will turn 30 next week, last played for the Patriots in 2018.

McNichols joined Duke Johnson, Brian Hill and Jason Huntley at a recent 49ers workout. The 49ers are without Elijah Mitchell for what is expected to be a short stretch. A five-year veteran, McNichols most recently saw action for the Titans in 2021, helping the team as a pass-catching back (28 grabs for 240 yards) while Derrick Henry missed time with a foot fracture.

Allen suffered an injury while competing in the opening rounds of the 110-meter hurdles competition at the USA Track and Field Championships in July. The two-time Olympian owns the sixth-fastest hurdle time this year (13.04 seconds) but missed a key chunk of Eagles camp. This marks his second bid to make Philadelphia’s 53-man roster. Allen, 28, spent last season on the Eagles’ practice squad and stayed with the team via a reserve/futures contract in February.

The Panthers’ regular kicker, Eddy Pineiro, is battling a groin injury. Carolina gave Pineiro, their 2022 kicker, $2.25MM guaranteed earlier this offseason. The Jaguars’ primary kicker in 2021, Wright kicked in four Steelers games and two Chiefs contests last season.

A rookie UDFA, Whittaker suffered a torn patellar tendon in a recent Seahawks practice, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Matthews also sustained a season-ending injury — a torn ACL — during a Texans workout, Wilson adds (on Twitter).

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