Revisiting the last 15 kickers taken in the NFL Draft

The Tampa Bay Times once wrote in 2019 “it’s not smart to draft kickers.” Bleacher Report highlighted “the impossible task” of scouting kickers back in 2015. While NFL fans bemoan their team drafting a kicker, front offices do so with conviction that they might win games in the fall. We’ll look at the last 15 kickers selected in the NFL Draft. All statistics are sourced from Sports Reference.

As there are for most NFL kickers, Moody experienced his fair share of ups and downs as a rookie in 2023 with the San Francisco 49ers. The NFL’s website talked about his crushing misses during the regular season, and untimely ones before the Super Bowl. However, Moody redeemed himself during the big game by drilling two 50+ yard kicks.

The 2023 season was a tough one to navigate for the New England Patriots and their fans. Ryland’s performance contributed to the sorrow, as AP News called him “the worst kicker in the league” in late December 2023. However, he did make a 47-yard field goal to win a game in Denver late in the season.

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While Ryland’s struggles may have gotten more publicity, Carlson’s woes were also noted. Forbes called out that Carlson missed at least one kick in his last five regular season games, and could not convert an important boot against the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round. “We know what he’s capable of,” said Green Bay Packers coach Matt Lafleur. “But you’ve got to be more consistent.”

York spent the 2022 as the Cleveland Browns kicker, making 24 out of 32 field goals, with a long of 58 yards set in his very first NFL game. He did not kick in the NFL in 2023, but re-signed with the Browns in 2024.

FanSided’s Stripe Hype coverage of the Cincinnati Bengals called McPherson the “king of clutch.” He made a habit of nailing important kicks during the team’s Super Bowl run in 2021. He continues to be one of the better kickers from long range in the NFL, having made 21 kicks from over 50 yards in his first three seasons.

The Patriots’ selection of Rohrwasser in the 2020 NFL Draft was a huge whiff. He never suited up in a regular season game for New England, as he spent his entire rookie year on the practice squad. ESPN and Bleacher Report wrote stories about a controversial tattoo the kicker had, which put him in the news for the wrong reasons during training camp in 2020.

Bass’ legacy might revolve around the kick he missed in the Divisional Round against the Kansas City Chiefs, which USA Today likened to Scott Norwood’s missed kick for the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl. Despite the letdown in a pressure situation, Bass has still been a pretty reliable option for Buffalo at the position.

Sloman has only appeared in eight NFL games in 2020, where he went 10 for 13 splitting time with the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans. He has also played in the XFL.

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Gay has a Super Bowl ring to his name, earning one with the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. He’s been a steady option throughout his career, playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, and Rams in his NFL tenure. He set a career high in 2023 for the Colts with eight made kicks over 50 yards.

Certain kickers are available to fill in for teams at a moment’s notice, and that’s the role Seibert has played throughout his NFL career. In five seasons, Seibert has kicked for four teams. He’ll likely remain a part of the emergency kicker contact list should starters go down with an injury.

Daniel Carlson is the brother of Green Bay Packers kicker Anders Carlson. He’s bounced back nicely from a very shaky start to his career. As a rookie with the Minnesota Vikings, he missed three out of his first four kicks in the NFL, which all came in one game. One team’s trash is another’s treasure, as he spent the next part of his career with the Las Vegas Raiders as a solid player.

The Miami Dolphins selected Sanders in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and he’s spent the six seasons since with the franchise. He was named as an All-Pro during the 2020 campaign, and has a success rate of over 83% on field goals in that six-year span.

Elliott was taken in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, CBS Sports announced that the team signed him to a four-year extension in March 2024, after he’s already spent seven seasons in Philadelphia. According to Sports Illustrated, his new compensation($6 million a year on average) ties him with Baltimore’s Justin Tucker for highest in the NFL at kicker.

Gonzalez has made the rounds in his brief NFL career. He’s played for the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers. The 49ers released him in September 2023 with an injury settlement.

Butker has won three Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs, and has an NFL record to his name. He’s kicked the longest field goal in Super Bowl history, knocking down a 57-yarder in Super Bowl LVIII. Sports Illustrated wondered in February 2024 whether Butker is the best kicker in NFL postseason history.

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