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The Kansas City Chiefs have quite the competition brewing at kicker, with both Ryan Succop and Cairo Santos making their case to become the starter. However, the team might have made a telling statement heading into a week of roster cuts given that Succop, the incumbent starter, failed to play against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.
The competition between Succop and Santos has been covered already. The two are in close competition thus far, and the coaching staff has great things to say about both players. This is where off-the-field elements could sway the argument.
Succop comes with the eighth highest cap hit for a kicker in the NFL. For the Chiefs, the savings of a couple million could add a bit more cap room for needed extensions with Justin Houston and/or Alex Smith. Santos will obviously be paid like a rookie free agent in 2014.
In addition, Succop could bring trade value for a team desperate at the position. Even a low-round pick could be a nice pick-up to add to an already impressive set of 2015 NFL Draft assets (which will include several compensation picks for the Chiefs).
Enter the Miami Dolphins. Last year, the Dolphins started Caleb Sturgis and the results weren't impressive. Sturgis finished with the fourth worst field goal completion percentage (76.5) in the league (26 of 34), and Sturgis is now nursing a groin injury. The team keeps moving through kickers in camp as they wait on Sturgis to recover. In short, it's not a desirable situation for the team.
The Dolphins already brought in John Potter to help with the change for Caleb Sturgis. Now Potter is injured which leaves the Dolphins are going with newly-signed journeyman Jake Rogers as the primary kicker for the team's last preseason game, per Fox Sports' Alex Marvez. According to Rotowire, Sturgis' spot on the roster is in jeopardy due to the injury, while Kevin Nogle of The Phinsider says he's a candidate for injured reserve.
Either way, the Dolphins special teams aren't looking so special.
Given the experience of Succop and his showing in camp against stiff competition, the Dolphins could certainly do worse than to trade a low round draft pick to shore up the kicker position. For the Chiefs, it would be an additional gain for an asset they could release anyway. The same argument here can apply to Santos and the Dolphins if the Chiefs decide to keep Succop.