When the Buccaneers drafted Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft it was just a matter of time before Connor Barth was given his walking papers. Now the three-time former Bucs kicker is reportedly heading to a division rival.
Barth didn’t begin his 2015 season but was with the Denver Broncos until being released during the pre-season and brought back to Tampa where he competed with Notre Dame rookie Kyle Brindza whom they had traded for from the Detroit Lions during the pre-season.
Brindza won the competition and Barth was once again released, but after four games, six missed field goals, and numerous missed extra points Brindza was on the waiver wire and Barth was coming back to the Bay.
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He made his third debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars where his three made field goals and three successful extra points helped give the Bucs their second win of the young season. In total, Barth made 26 of his 28 field goal tries for the Buccaneers in 2015, a conversion rate of 82%.
On the year however, the franchise finished with just a 72% made field goals percentage; third worst in the NFL.
While the surprise draft selection marked the end of yet another time for Barth as a Buccaneer, it does not mark the end of his career.
Adam Schefter reported the Saints will bring in the 30 year old kicker to compete with their incumbent Kai Forbath.
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Forbath converted less than 70% of his field goal tries in New Orleans while appearing in 10 games. Previous to his time in the “Big Easy” he spent three years and one game in 2015 with the Washington Redskins and had his best year in 2012 when he missed just one field goal try all season.
If Barth wins the job over Forbath then he’ll get to spend half of his season kicking inside of a dome at home, and will see the Buccaneers for the first time in Week 14 when the Saints head to Tampa for a December 11th match-up which could vindicate the controversial draft pick, or justify the fans who voiced frustration with replacing a kicker with an 84% career made kicks percentage with a second round pick.