Chicago Bears 2017 mock draft: Full seven-round draft

Perhaps the Chicago Bears pulled the trigger on releasing Robbie Gould too early. He struggled some in 2015, and with his age, the concern was that with his age his production would continue to fall.

Well, that didn’t exactly happen.

The Bears signed Connor Barth to replace Gould. In 2016, he succeeded on 78.3 percent of his kicks. That was lower than Gould’s 84.6 percent from 2015. In addition, Gould, who signed with the New York Giants and played ten games for them in 2016, made all 10 of his kicks. He also made both field goals attempted in the playoff game he played.

I think it’s time for the Bears to move on again. Instead of recycling the same old kickers that have been in the league for the past 20 years, they need some new blood. Gonzalez is a good choice.

Gonzalez was one of the most decorated players and the most prolific kicker in FBS history. He broke the record for most field goal made (96) and attempted (115). He became the first kicker in FBS history to make 20 field goals or more in each of his four seasons. Also, he scored in every one of his 51 appearances in college.

Gonzelez worked on his lower body and it showed as the seasons went on. He holds the record for most field goals made from both 40 and 50-yards. In 2016 alone, he connected on 20-of-24 from 40+ and 50+ yards. His kickoffs resulted in touchbacks 75 percent of the time.

Next: Chicago Bears draft target Cam Robinson

Some teams may be hesitant to draft a kicker after the debacle of the Roberto Aguayo situation. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him in the second round, and he ended up with the lowest field goal percentage in the NFL. If the Chicago Bears covet a value pick in the last round, then Zane Gonzalez is their guy. He could be there for a decade. Not many seventh-round picks can say that.