4 kickers the Detroit Lions could trade for to replace Riley Patterson

2. Matt Prater, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are clearly in tank mode. Trades came in a flurry late last week. Now they're going to go with either Josh Dobbs or late-round rookie Clayton Tune as their starting quarterback to start the season, if not all year long if Kyler Murray is never healthy enough to play,

That leaves Prater in a similar position to the one he was in in 2021. It didn't make sense for the Lions to pay him what the market would bear when he was a free agent, as they launched a rebuild. Now, it doesn't make much sense for the clearly rebuilding Cardinals to keep a 39-year old kicker.

Prater's age is a thing, if you let it be, and he did miss a few games last season. But he is still plenty capable, converting 88 percent of his field goals (22-for-25; 5-for-6 from 50-plus) last year. In 2020 and 2021, he attempted 10 field goals from 50-plus yards out.

It's unlikely Prater has or would ask for a trade. But the Lions could be calling, and the Cardinals' could add to their stockpile of draft picks with a late-rounder.

1. Will Lutz, New Orleans Saints

Lutz has been legitimately pushed by undrafted rookie Blake Grupe for the kicking job in New Orleans, to the point Lutz has surfaced as a trade candidate. A reunion with Sean Payton in Denver is definitely possible, and Russini's report also mentioned the Broncos as a team hunting for a kicker on the trade market.


Lutz had a down year in 2022, as he went just 23-for-31 on field goals (74.6 percent) while going 33-for-33 on extra points. But before that he had never made less than 82 percent of his field goals in a season, and he's got plenty of leg (career-long of 60 yards,


Lions head coach Dan Campbell is also plenty familiar with Lutz, having been in New Orleans under Payton through the 2020 season. If they are making calls about kickers, interest in Lutz is easy.

Update: Lutz has reportedly been traded to the Denver Broncos.