Everyone knows that quarterback is king in the NFL… but so many teams—even great ones—have had their success live and die by the competence of another—far less appreciated position… NFL Kickers!
Let’s call a spade a spade—kickers aren’t really anyone’s favorite. They have a disproportionate level of impact on the game despite them basically playing a completely different sport from the rest of their teammates.
But without a good kicker – it is really hard to win come playoff time… so having one of that you can count on is vital.
Without further ado, let’s check out the kickers on all 32 teams around the NFL heading into 2024 and rank them from WORST to first!
Who are the best kickers in the NFL this season?
32. Green Bay Packers – Brayden Narveson
Brayden Narveson enters the NFL out of NC State with a lot of potential—clearly—as Packers head coach Matt LaFleur opted to keep Narveson over a couple of more veteran options…
But let’s face it. He is still completely untested at the professional level other than what he’s done during the camp and the preseason.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
31. New England Patriots – Joey Slye
Slye was among the worst kickers in the NFL last season for the Washington Commanders.
In 2023, Slye hit only 79.2 percent of his field-goal attempts, the second-worst clip in the league for guys with double-digit attempts.
Granted, he won’t likely have a ton of pressure on him this year in New England.
30. Carolina Panthers – Eddy Piñeiro
Eddy Piñeiro has had an up-and-down NFL career, to say the least… His accuracy has not proven to be super reliable, especially with longer attempts… And his performance under pressure has been shaky at best.
There is a reason that he is kicking for the Carolina Panthers and not a franchise with any serious aspirations!
29. Washington Commanders – Cade York
After getting tagged as an All-American at LSU, there was a lot of excitement about Cade York, but unfortunately, his career hasn’t exactly gone to plan… while his powerful leg has never been in doubt, his accuracy has been disappointing, to say the least.
The fourth-round pick hit just 75% of his kicks during his rookie year and spent last year on practice squads, never appearing in a regular season game. Washington is really rolling the dice on this one!
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Chase McLaughlin
Chase McLaughlin was really struggling to prove himself as a serviceable kicker early in his NFL career, but that all changed last year in Tampa Bay. He went from a 78.7% success rate on 85 attempts during the first four years of his career to an impressive 93.5% clip last year.
Let’s see if he can match that this year with increased expectations—or will water find its level?! We are betting on the latter.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars – Cam Little
Cam Little was one of the better kickers in the SEC last year for Arkansas and has since parlayed his college career into a starting shot in Jacksonville.
That said… he is still a rookie kicker—and Little is going to have to prove it before we start listing him any higher.
Also Read: 11 NFL Expansion Franchises You Didn’t Know ALMOST Happened
26. Detroit Lions – Jake Bates
Jake Bates might be a newer face in the NFL, but he has quickly gained attention in recent weeks after signing with the Detroit Lions after his impressive showing during the UFL.
It will be fascinating to see what the undrafted Arkansas alum can do this go around in the NFL with all of that leg strength!
25. New Orleans Saints – Blake Grupe
Blake Grupe might have been a college standout, but he’s walking into the NFL with a lot to prove. He was filling big shoes in New Orleans, taking over for a proven vet in Will Lutz. 30 for 37 was solid, but the Saints will be looking for a little more out of him this season.
24. Tennessee Titans – Nick Folk
Nick Folk is the kind of kicker you can trust to get the job done—most of the time. He’s been around the block, bringing a steady leg to the Titans. While he’s not going to wow anyone with long-range bombs, his accuracy within 40-50 yards is solid.
Folk’s experience is his biggest asset, but with his leg strength waning, it is hard to put him any higher on this list.
23. Chicago Bears – Cairo Santos
Cairo Santos has had a career of ups and downs, but he’s found a groove with the Bears. Santos isn’t going to impress anyone with deep kicks, but within his range, he’s been rock-solid.
That said… the Bears do have to be holding their breath a little bit—wondering if and when the train will come off the tracks.
22. Denver Broncos – Wil Lutz
Wil Lutz has been around long enough to know how to get the job done. Early in his career, Lutz was one of the more accurate kickers in the NFL, especially for a guy with his range.
He has struggled a little bit over the past couple of years, though, and he didn’t look great in Denver during his first season with the team.
21. Los Angeles Rams – Joshua Karty
Joshua Karty might be new to the NFL, but the Rams are hoping he can bring some stability to their kicking game. Karty was a two-time All-American in college and could be a game-changer for L.A. in late-game situations.
20. New York Giants – Graham Gano
The Giants might be searching for fool’s gold, hoping that the soon-to-be 37-year-old Gano will be able to rebound this season.
Granted, he was one of the most consistent kickers in the league during his prime, but his accuracy crashed to 64.7 percent on 17 attempts last season before his nagging knee injury ended his season.
New York is hoping that the injury heals up and he’ll regain form, but we are skeptical.
19. Arizona Cardinals – Matt Prater
Matt Prater went undrafted out of Central Florida back in 2007 with the Atlanta Falcons—and, shockingly, his leg strength hasn’t deteriorated too much nearly two decades later.
Last season, he managed to deliver a respectable 28-for-33 mark on field-goal attempts, including going 9-for-12 from 50-plus for the Cards.
18. Seattle Seahawks – Jason Myers
Jason Myers has quietly become one of the more reliable kickers in the NFL. He’s not flashy, but he’s dependable—especially when the game’s on the line.
Myers doesn’t have the biggest leg, but his accuracy, particularly from 40-50 yards, makes him a trusted weapon for the Seahawks.
17. Minnesota Vikings – Will Reichard
Will Reichard is stepping into the NFL with a lot of hype after a stellar college career at Alabama. He’s got the leg strength and accuracy to make an impact right away, but like any rookie, he’s going to have to prove it on the field.
16. New York Jets – Greg Zuerlein
Greg Zuerlein, or “Greg the Leg,” has been around long enough to know the highs and lows of NFL kicking. His leg strength has carried him through his career, as Zuerlein’s been a hero from beyond 50 yards more times than you can count. Last year, he scored 35 of 38 field goals, which was his most accurate campaign since 2017. his game.
The Jets have a lot riding on this season—and will need a good year out of Zuerlein.
15. San Francisco 49ers – Jake Moody
The San Francisco 49ers took a lot of flack for taking Jake Moody with the 99th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft—and while we don’t love the decision… at least he’s been solid for them. Especially in the playoffs—where he has delivered some clutch kicks already!
14. Pittsburgh Steelers – Chris Boswell
Chris Boswell is one of the longest-tenured kickers in the NFL, having played for the Steelers since 2015… and he’s managed to remain one of the most accurate kickers with the exception of a couple of down years.
His 2022 campaign was particularly worrying, as he hit just 71% of his field goals… quite a departure from his career 87.2% clip—but he rebounded nicely last year to 93.5% and is as safe of a bet as any kicker out there.
13. Cleveland Browns – Dustin Hopkins
Dustin Hopkins has been around the league long enough to know how to get the job done—and with the way that he performed in Cleveland last year, the Browns should feel comfortable relying on him. He went an impressive 33 for 36 and nailed all eight of his attempts from beyond 50 yards.
12. Atlanta Falcons – Younghoe Koo
Younghoe Koo’s strong leg and cool demeanor make him a perfect fit for the Falcons, especially in close games where every point counts. While he might not get the same attention as some of the league’s bigger names, Koo’s consistency is extremely valuable.
11. Miami Dolphins – Jason Sanders
Jason Sanders had a breakout year in 2020, but since then, his performance has been a bit up and down. When he’s on, Sanders can be one of the best kickers in the league, with the leg strength to hit from long range and the accuracy to back it up—and he showed that last year by going 24 for 28.
10. Indianapolis Colts – Matt Gay
Matt Gay has quietly built a reputation as one of the more dependable kickers in the league. He’s got a powerful leg and the accuracy to match, making him a key weapon for the Colts.
He had a down year in 2023, dropping from 93.3% to 80.5%, but five misses came from 50-plus, and we expect a bounce-back showing this season.
9. Buffalo Bills – Tyler Bass
Tyler Bass has quickly established himself as one of the top kickers in the NFL, thanks to his strong kicking leg and his consistent ability to stay cool under pressure. With the Bills fixing to play some meaningful football games late into this season—his performance will be critical.
8. Houston Texans – Kaʻimi Fairbairn
Fairbairn’s range is decent, but his bread and butter is consistent.
At least the last two years, he has been! The Houston Texans kicker owns a 94.9 percent success rate on 59 attempts in the last two seasons after a disastrous 2022 campaign when he fell below 80% accuracy!
With the Texans’ offense looking like it could be one of the top units in football this season, we will see Fairbairn come back under the microscope. Let’s see if he can handle the pressure!
7. Las Vegas Raiders – Daniel Carlson
Daniel Carlson has turned into one of the more dependable legs in the NFL, quietly doing his job without much fanfare. Carlson has been money from long-range and solid under pressure, making him a reliable weapon for the Raiders.
6. Philadelphia Eagles – Jake Elliott
Jake Elliott has made a career out of clutch kicks, including the unforgettable 61-yarder as a rookie that put him on the map. He finished sixth in accuracy at 93.8 percent last season and was one of only six guys with a 90 percent success rate and at least seven conversions from 50-plus yards.
5. Cincinnati Bengals – Evan McPherson
Evan McPherson has quickly become one of the most exciting young kickers in the NFL, known for his powerful leg and fearless approach to clutch situations.
Dubbed “Money Mac,” McPherson has already hit several game-winning kicks in his young career, including a 52-yarder in overtime to send the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021.
He will be pivotal in Cinci this year as the Bengals look to charge forward now that they have Joe Burrow back healthy.
4. Los Angeles Chargers – Cameron Dicker
Cameron Dicker has been money since joining Los Angeles. The Chargers kicker has gone 50-of-53 on his field-goal attempts, boasting an outstanding 94.3 percent success rate without a miss from inside 50 yards.
With Harbaugh’s run-heavy offense—Dicker could be looking at a lot of usage this year, too!
3. Kansas City Chiefs – Harrison Butker
Harrison Butker has been one of the most consistent kickers in the NFL since he was taken in the seventh round back in 2017 out of Georgia Tech. Butker is known not just for his spicy social commentary but also for his powerful leg and ability to make crucial kicks.
And his role in the Chiefs budding dynasty shouldn’t be understated.
2. Dallas Cowboys – Brandon Aubrey
Brandon Aubrey’s journey to the NFL is anything but traditional—coming from a soccer background to now kicking for America’s Team… But with the way he performed as a rookie last year, it is hard to deny he’s one of the top kickers in the NFL.
Aubrey was first-team all-pro, hitting 36 of 38 attempts, including a long of 60—setting a number of records along the way.
1. Baltimore Ravens – Justin Tucker
While he is starting to look a little bit more human with each passing season… Justin Tucker is not just the best kicker in the NFL; he might be the best kicker in the history of the league.
Tucker’s combination of accuracy, leg strength, and consistency is unmatched. Over his career, he’s maintained an astonishing 90.7% field goal percentage—and his distance is insane. What is most impressive about Tucker, too—is that whether it is the first quarter or the game is on the line, he always seems like the same guy!
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams’ Top Wide Receivers For The 2024 Season From WORST To FIRST
