mosfet failure reasons?

you might need the gate-source resistors as low as 100 ohms (which would mean using 2W resistors!)

A 2W resistor to switch a 10nF capacitor, that sounds a bit excessive. It is not a continuous current rating we are working with.

just realized tho if I do it the way in that last picture it'll put too much voltage on the gate

Yes it will, your thinking is correct.