5 Detroit Lions candidates to be cut going into the summer

2. PK Michael Badgley

After the Lions had a revolving door at kicker over the 2021 season and into last year, Badgley deserves a ton of credit for coming in and stabilizing the situation. He was not flawless, subject to a Jim Nantz announcer’s jinx on Thanksgiving when he missed what should have been a makeable field goal, but overall he was very good (20-for-24 on field goals, a perfect 33-for-33 on extra points over 12 games).

The Lions re-signed Badgley in March, but the idea of adding an upgrade to replace him (Robbie Gould?) surfaced in some circles. Many Lions fans clamored for the drafting of a kicker, like Michigan’s Jake Moody (who was taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round), but that didn’t happen.

Coming off a good run kicking in the XFL for the San Antonio Brahmas this season (17-for-19 on field goals, 9-for-10 from 40 yards-plus out, named to the All-XFL Team), John Parker Romo was an interesting invite to Lions’ rookie minicamp for a tryout. Off what was apparently a good showing there, he was signed to compete with Badgley.

Badgley is a solid kicker, but he has been well-traveled for a reason. Romo seems to have a stronger leg, if nothing else, and his opportunity to win the kicking job for the Lions starts with OTAs this week.

Maybe he ends up beating out Romo, the metaphorical shiny new toy in the Lions’ placekicker battle, but Badgley has undeniably been put on notice.