It’s not the splashiest thing to think about, but here are four free agent kickers the Detroit Lions could consider signing.
After quite a kicker carousel for a season-plus after Matt Prater left in free agency, Michael Badgley stabilized the situation for the Detroit Lions. In 12 games for them last season, he went 20-for-24 on field goals and 33-for-33 on extra points. Many fans will remember a chip shot miss on Thanksgiving Day, as play-by-play man Jim Nantz jinxed him, but his other three misses were from 40-plus yards out
Badgley is a free agent, and it would be simplest for the Lions to just re-sign him and move on to bigger priorities. But via Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press, special teams coach Dave Fipp seems somewhat intrigued by outside possibilities.
Three of the Detroit Lions' best special teams players will be free agents next week, and if they're interested, coordinator Dave Fipp sees 'some great free agent kickers out there this year' https://t.co/H9No47RMrW via @freep
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) March 8, 2023
The free agent list of kickers, via Spotrac, indeed has some interesting names on it. As much as kickers can or should be that interesting, I suppose.
As the Lions possibly entertain options besides Badgley, here are four free agent kickers they could consider signing.
4 free agent kickers the Detroit Lions could consider signing
4. Brett Maher
Let’s try to forget Maher’s case of the yips that came to a full head in the Cowboys’ Wild Card Round win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Over the last two seasons, Maher has made 90 percent of his field goals. Last season, he went 9-for-11 from 50 or more yards out and he has a long of at least 60 yards in three of his four NFL seasons. He had a 78 percent touchback rate on kickoffs last season (by comparison punter Jack Fox, the Lions’ kickoff guy, had a 71.4 percent rate late season).
If the Lions think they could have an answer for Maher’s yips, which any kicker can be subject to at any point, he could get what seems to be a much-needed change of scenery in Detroit.
4. Matt Prater
At the start of a rebuild in 2021, even with the hindsight of that season’s issues at kicker, it didn’t make sense for the Lions to pay Prater what he could get on the free agent market. He could, and did, cash in nicely with a two-year, $6.5 million deal from the Arizona Cardinals.
Prater missed four games with a hip issue last season, which is a red flag when paired with his age (39 on Aug. 10). But he was still a very accurate kicker, going 22-for-25 on field goals (88 percent; 5-for-6 from 50-plus yards out) and 17-for-18 on extra points.
Prater is still trusted to try long field goals, he is still capable, and he would not handle kickoffs for the Lions. A reunion could be in play.
3. Matt Gay
Over the last two seasons, Gay has been one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL (74-for-80 on field goals; 11-for-14 from 50-plus yards out over that span). He was a Pro Bowler with the Rams in 2021, and he went 4-for-5 on 50-plus yard field goals during their run to a Super Bowl title.
Rather than tag Gay this week, or seemingly even get a deal done with him in the coming days now, the Rams are letting him hit the open market unabated as they try to save some much-needed money. The Lions should at least have some cursory interest, though the price may be a little too rich.
1. Robbie Gould
In a fairly surprising development, Gould indicated earlier this month that he will be leaving the 49ers and signing with another team in free agency. It seems like that’s his decision, but perhaps the team gave him indications they want to go in another direction after six years.
Veteran kicker Robbie Gould said today that, as much as he enjoyed his last six seasons in San Francisco, he will test free agency later this month and be kicking elsewhere in 2023.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2023
Gould spent his first 11 seasons with the Chicago Bears, posting a remarkable 85.4 percent field goal rate while playing half his games in the rough conditions of Soldier Field. After a partial season with the New York Giants in 2016, he made 95.1 percen of his field goals in his first year as a 49er in 2017. In 2018, he led the league and set a career best by making 97.1 percent of his field goals. A drop-off followed in 2019, but he has been steady since, matching the template of his entire career.
Plenty of teams have been mentioned as possible suitors for Gould, as expected, and a return to the 49ers shouldn’t be ruled out. He has said he doesn’t necessarily want to return to the Bears though, via The 33rd Team.
"I live here [Chicago] full-time but I don’t know if I want to kick in the cold anymore,” Gould said with a laugh. “I’d look to get a dome and some warm weather first. 40 years, 18 years of doing this, I deserve that I think.”"
-Playing home games in a dome, or in warm weather? Check for the Lions, on the dome part, though the prospect of December/January games in Green Bay or Chicago could turn Gould off.
-A team that could be quite good next season, such as a 40-year old kicker might have that preference? Check for the Lions there too.
-As much as it may be a factor for personal reasons, fairly close proximity to his maintained hometown of Chicago? Detroit checks that box as well.
If the Lions consider outside free agent kickers, it starts with Gould and everyone else follows.
Other notable free agent kickers the Lions could consider: Mason Crosby, Randy Bullock, Greg Zuerlein, Riley Patterson