I feel confident that if the Rams had a reliable kicker on the roster last season, not even a great one but just a reliable one mind you, they would have beat the Lions and made it as far as the NFC championship. Every time that LA got in the red zone during that game, the play calls turned ridiculously timid, as if McVay was terrified of losing the chance to put up an easy three for once instead of pushing for the touchdown. Not to mention the long third down attempts that would be a field goal attempt under more normal circumstances.

Suffice it to say that the kicking problem is something that MUST be addressed for the Rams this offseason. Last season’s kicker, Brett Maher, is an unrestricted free agent and there are no signals pointing to the Rams re-signing him for the 2024 season, much to the relief of Rams Nation. So that leaves three avenues for the Rams to add a new kicker: buy one, draft one, or wait for one.

Buy One

The options here are thin after the first wave of free agency with the last truly intriguing option (in my opinion), Greg Joseph, signing with the Packers. Some headliners of the remaining options include Ryan Succop, Mason Crosby, and Randy Bullock. Of these options, I am partial towards Mason Crosby, but that is no more than personal preference, especially since his recent track record has not been incredible.

Of course, the NFL is not the only place to search for a kicker with experience, as the UFL merger has left more than a few kickers without a team. Although, if the Rams were to reach into the UFL for a kicker, no one is drawing more attention than Jake Bates right now. Bates is the kicker for the Michigan Panthers who had not kicked a field goal since high school prior to this Saturday. In Saturday’s season opener, the Panthers were down by one point with eight seconds left and they opted to bring Bates on to attempt a 64-yard field goal. Not only did he make it, but he made it TWICE after the Battlehawks attempted to ice him on the first attempt. He may not have the experience, but that is a level of clutch and kick power that are intriguing enough to warrant an opportunity in LA.

Jake Bates, a kickoff specialist, hadn't attempted a field goal since high school.

He just hit a game-winning 64-YARD field goal for the Panthers…

And he did it twice 🔥🦵 pic.twitter.com/7uL2QGEZoG

— UFL (@XFL2023) March 30, 2024

Draft One

This is always a touchy subject, as kickers are SO difficult to gauge how well their play will translate to the pros, resulting in most teams not wanting to “waste a draft pick” on one. If the Rams were to seek a solution in the draft, it would have to be a day three pick. The two kickers who stand out in this year’s draft class are Joshua Karty and Will Reichard. Both accumulated an abundance of accolades during their college careers and could do well at the next level.

Karty has a strong leg and was 43 of 45 from inside the 50 during his three seasons with the Stanford Cardinal. He has the leg for longer field goals and regular touchbacks as well, the latter of which could play a significant role with the new kickoff rules. Just look at this video from his senior year of high school:

The BIGGEST kickoff we’ve seen this year, possibly at every level of football.

Stanford commit Joshua Karty smashes roughly a 90-yard ⏱4.6 kickoff 👀
pic.twitter.com/ENvxGlbMrx

— Kicking, Punting, Long Snapping Highlights (@KohlsHighlights) November 16, 2019

Reichard’s consistency inside the 40 and his experience in the spotlight, having played in five CFP games, are his biggest strengths. He went 10-12 in CFP games over the last four years, including going 2-2 in this year’s matchup against Michigan, one of which was a clutch 52-yarder with less than five minutes left in the fourth. He is over 95% within 40 yards in the last four years but has a weaker leg that makes longer field goals a struggle.

Wait for One

There are currently five teams in the NFL with more than one kicker on the roster, which means that the losers of those kicking battles will likely be on the market before the season begins, giving the Rams a few more options to choose from. Of these kicking battles, the two that stand out to me the most are the Packers and the Jaguars. The Packers kicking room consists of Anders Carlson, Greg Joseph, and Jack Podlesny. Joseph and Carlson could both be viable options for the Rams if one (or both) hits free agency, despite Carlson’s struggles last season. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have a pair of experienced kickers on the roster in Riley Patterson and Joey Slye. Patterson has had an impressive 88.1% field goal percentage in his three seasons and has done well in the 40-49 range, making 16-19. He is only 3-6 from 50+ though which is a bit concerning both from a percentage and opportunity standpoint. Slye on the other hand is only 82.3% in his five-year career but has 11 of his last 13 from beyond the 50.

Conclusion

As a Rams fan, I don’t want to have to sit through another game where my heart sinks every time our kicker steps on the field. Whatever the Rams decide to do, if they find a solid kicker, I hope they pay him enough to keep him around this time.