4. Brandon McManus
We can't mention McManus without mentioning a big elephant in the room. He has been accused by two women of sexual assault on a cross-country flight to London when he kicked for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. The Washington Commanders signed him in free agency this year, and they cut him quickly when the news of the lawsuit by the alleged victims surfaced.
McManus's attorney immediately issued a statement calling the allegations "absolutely fictious and demonstrably false". Where the legal process is (or isn't) right now is unclear, with no new developments since the allegations and lawsuit surfaced followed by Washington cutting him, but discipline from the NFL is possible should McManus sign with a team.
If not for the off-field issue, which should not be downplayed, McManus would still be the Commanders' kicker. Should the legal process reach a conclusion, he'd be the best kicker available without question.
Within the bubble of the Lions' current circumstance without Badgley, such as they want to have a experienced, serious challenger for Bates in camp, McManus would be No. 1 on this list without the troubling allegations against him.
3. Brett Maher
It's been a bit of a journey for Maher since he missed four field goals for the Dallas Cowboys in a Wild Card playoff game against Tampa Bay after the 2022 season. He landed briefly with the Denver Broncos last offseason, before landing with the Los Angeles Rams and kicking in eight regular season games for them last year. He was released by the Rams in October, then they re-signed him for the playoff game against the Lions. He made all five of his kicks in that game, two extra points and three field goals from under 30 yards out.
Maher went 17-for-23 on field goals and 13-for-15 on extra points for the Rams last year in the regular season, with four misses from 50-plus yards out (3-for-7). In 2022 with Dallas, he made over 90 percent of his field goals overall and went 9-for-11 from 50-plus.
His case of postseason yips is hard to forget. But that doesn't mean Maher is underserving of a shot in someone's training camp, and a possible opportunity just opened up in Detroit.