Why Detroit Lions No Longer Need to Draft a Kicker

UFL kicker Jake Bates must sign with Detroit Lions.

Former Houston Texans place kicker Jake Bates (49) / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

The last time the Detroit Lions selected a kicker in the NFL Draft was in 2014.

Unfortunately, Nate Freese did not pan out. Detroit's franchise was not known for many things other than futility the past several decades, but the franchise did have reliable kickers that played in Motown for several years. These included Eddie Murray, Jason Hanson and Matt Prater.

Since Prater's departure, it's simply been a turnstile. Detroit's front office has struggled to find a reliable kicker that can last more than a season in Motown.

Adding another kicker to the roster before training camp is expected, since the team has not had consistency at the position in years.

Prior to the start of the Michigan Panthers' 2024 UFL season, many clamored for general manager Brad Holmes to target a kicker in this year's draft.

In two games, kicker Jake Bates has instantly become a fan-favorite after two made field goals beyond 60 yards.

Bates already has made a 62-yarder and a 64-yarder at Ford Field to start the season.

Prior to training camp, it is expected the talented kicker will be targeted by several NFL teams.

Lions supporters have taken to social media to demand Holmes and Co. take a serious look at the former Houston Texans kicker.

Special teams coach Dave Fipp acknowledged last year their are risks to targeting a kicker in the Draft.

“I do think in order to draft a kicker that you got to feel like, ‘Hey, man, this guy’s going to be a good player for us,’” Fipp said prior to the 2023 season. “And I think it’s probably fairly well documented that in the past there have been — (Sebastian) Janikowski, maybe he worked out (as an early pick) but in the past there have been some mistakes where they’ve taken some guys earlier in the draft and those guys didn’t work out.

"And I do think that the kicker position’s much like a lot of them where it’s hit and miss," Fipp continued. "You don’t know exactly which one’s going to be a guy who ends up playing great in this league and having a great career in this league, so it’s not always the guy you thought was the best going into the draft or coming out of the draft that year.”

Recent kickers who have been drafted have had mixed results. There were three picked in last year's Draft, including Jake Moody, Chad Ryland and Anders Carlson.

Last season, the Lions signed John Parker Romo to compete with Michael Badgley and Riley Patterson in training camp. Before Detroit, Romo had kicked in the XFL.