Kickers all the time appear to make a giant distinction in a sport, however they aren’t normally extremely valued on the free company market. There are a pair notable placekickers hitting the market this 12 months, together with probably the most computerized of current years.
We polled a gaggle of writers from round SB Nation to collect consensus rankings concerning the accessible gamers.
We’ll take away gamers from the listing as they re-sign with their present groups all the way in which as much as the opening of free company in March.
7. Riley Patterson, Cleveland Browns
Patterson frolicked on three totally different rosters in 2024 and battled to make simply 57% of his kicks.
6. Brandon McManus, Inexperienced Bay Packers
Coming off a veteran minimal deal in 2024, the soon-to-be 34-year-old kicker had a robust 12 months in 2024, nailing greater than 95% of his discipline objective makes an attempt and all 30 further factors, each nicely above his profession common. He was at 81% in 2023 and 78% in 2022. He was a midseason signing for Inexperienced Bay, becoming a member of the workforce in mid-October. McManus was accused of sexual assault in Could 2024 by two flight attendants on the Jaguars’ workforce flight from Jacksonville to London. The league has stated there was not sufficient proof to pursue a suspension and either side of the lawsuit say the problem was resolved previous to his signing with the Packers.
5. Michael Badgley, Detroit Lions
Badgley missed the 2024 season with a torn hamstring suffered in July. He solely performed in 4 video games in 2023 as a observe squad name up after spending components of the 2023 offseason on the Lions, Commanders, and Titans earlier than re-signing with the Detroit observe squad. He was on a vet minimal deal.
4. Eddy Piñeiro, Carolina Panthers
Piñeiro really acquired two first-place votes from out panel however was ranked sixth or worse on two others. He’s coming off a three-year stint because the Panthers kicker the place he was slightly below 90% discipline objective share and hit 92% of his further factors. He simply accomplished a two-year, $4.1 million deal.
3. Joey Slye, New England Patriots
Slye signed with New England in Could after being minimize by the Jaguars after Jacksonville signed him in March. Beforehand he spent two seasons with Washington after three groups in 2021. He’s been underneath 80% in discipline objective share the final two seasons. He performed for the veteran minimal in 2024.
2. Matt Prater, Arizona Cardinals
Barely the oldest participant on the listing, Prater turns 41 simply earlier than the 2025 season. He missed many of the 2024 season after tearing the meniscus in his plant leg in Week 5. He was 16-of-16 on discipline objectives and additional factors earlier than his harm coming off an 85% conversion share in 2023. He was enjoying on a two-year, $7.5 million deal.
1. Nick Folks, Tennessee Titans
The 17-year vet has been darn close to computerized the final two seasons, making 96.7% and 95.5% of his discipline objectives enjoying for the Titans. He simply turned 40, although, and Tennessee was reluctant to trot him out for deep kicks not less than partly to do together with his age. (He’s a couple of months youthful than Prater.) He performed on a one-year, $3.755 million deal in 2024.
