COSTA MESA, Calif. -- You can point to several reasons why the Los Angeles Chargers barely missed out on making the playoffs last season.
Of course, they started the season 0-4, losing three straight games at their new temporary home in Los Angeles, the StubHub Center.
Early on, the Chargers had trouble scoring in the opening quarter and taking care of the football, but at the root of the Bolts’ struggles was inconsistencies at kicker.
The Chargers had five different players attempt extra points last season, including punter Drew Kaser. The Chargers finished a league-worst 67 percent on field goals.
They appeared to choose the wrong player in a training-camp competition between Younghoe Koo and Josh Lambo. After being released by the Chargers, Lambo signed on with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he made 19 of 20 field goals including a long of 56 yards, helping Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.
The Chargers still have Nick Rose on their 90-man roster, a late-season signing, and added talented but inconsistent Florida State product Roberto Aguayo on a reserve/future deal. But a team this close to making the playoffs needs a reliable kicker on game days, which means the Chargers should look to free agency to solve their kicking woes.
Here are some options:
Graham Gano, Carolina Panthers
The skinny: Still young for a kicker at 30 years old, Gano led the NFL with a franchise-record 96.7 percent field-goal percentage, making 29 of 30 field goals with a long of 48 yards. He also made a 58-yard field goal in the playoffs. Gano was also strong on kickoffs last season, finishing second in the NFL with 70 touchbacks. Gano earned a Pro Bowl invitation for his effort. The Florida State product is set to become a free agent in March if the Panthers do not bring him back. Gano is 12 of 15 (80 percent) on field goals in the postseason.
The skinny: The 42-year-old Bryant said he wants to play two to three more years in the league. Scheduled to become a free agent in March, Bryant has a career 85.6 field-goal percentage and is an impressive 14 of 15 on field goals in the postseason. The Chargers would need a kickoff specialist if they signed Bryant.
Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts
The skinny: One of the greatest kickers in the NFL, the 45-year-old Vinatieri said he wants to play another year and is scheduled to become a free agent in March. Perhaps the best clutch kicker in league history, Vinatieri has a career 84.3 field-goal percentage. However, Vinatieri has said he wants to stay in Indianapolis, and the Chargers would need a kickoff specialist because Vinatieri does not do kickoffs anymore.
Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders
The skinny: Recently released by the Raiders, Janikowski would benefit from staying on the West Coast and offer some familiarity with AFC West stadiums. Janikowski has a NFL-record 55 field goals of 50-or-more yards. However, Janikowski -- who turns 40 on March 2 -- did not play last season, spending all of 2017 on injured reserve with a back issue, so health is a concern. Janikowski said he intends to play in 2018.
Nick Novak, Los Angeles Chargers
The skinny: Novak offers familiarity because he was with the Chargers last season, finishing 9 of 13 (69.2 percent) with a long of 50 yards in 2017. However, Novak finished on injured reserve with a back issue. The Chargers could use Kaser as a kickoff specialist to rest the 36-year-old Novak’s leg. Novak has a career 82 percent field-goal percentage, and has made 8 of 9 field goals in the postseason.