Bears Lock Up K Robbie Gould To A Four-Year Extension

The Chicago Bears announced on Friday that they have reached an agreement with K Robbie Gould on a four-year contract extension.

• Ian Rapoport reports that Gould receives a four-year deal worth $15 million that includes $9 million guaranteed.
• This makes Gould the highest paid kicker in the league based on guarantees.

Here’s a look at the top contracts for place kickers:

1. Robbie Gould – four-years, $15 million, $9 million guaranteed.
2. Sebastian Janikowski – five-years, $18.9 million, $8 million guaranteed.
3. Stephen Gostkowski – five-years, $15.759 million, $5.1 million guaranteed.
4. Josh Scobee – four-years, $13.8 million, $4.75 million guaranteed.
5. Matt Prater – four-years, $13 million, $4.25 million guaranteed.

The guaranteed figures are really what you’re paying attention to here.

“It means a lot to be in one jersey,” Gould said, per Zach Zaidman. “I think we have an opportunity here to do something down the road that can be very special.”

Gould, 32, was in the final year of his contract and would have been an unrestricted free agent following the season. Given that Gould has been one of the best kickers in the league for a number of years now, he would have found a ton of interest on the open market.

Chicago could always have used their franchise tag, which is a fairly common move made by NFL teams in recent years, but that would prevent them from tagging some of their other free agents like QB Jay Cutler and possibly DT Henry Melton.

With Gould locked up long-term, there is actually a chance that the Bears could tag Cutler and look to re-signed backup QB Josh McCown this offseason.

As for Gould, he is on pace to finish the season with the best field goal percentage of his career. Gould has converted 234-of-272 field goals (86 percent) since 2005.