Off The Beaten Path: A Look At Titans Kicker Situation

We've beaten the other needs for the Tennessee Titans to death, so let's look at the least glamorous position for this team entering 2023.

Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

NASHVILLE - While the news that the Tennessee Titans had released kicker Randy Bullock in a salary cap, cost-savings move, there has been little discussion on who would fill that now vacant role for the team in 2023.

It came as no surprise that Bullock was released, and it should come as no surprise if the team were to resign him at a more team-friendly dollar amount for the coming campaign.

However, the Titans currently have a kicker in Calbe Shudack on the roster at a very reasonable $870,000 for 2023. 

A former Iowa Hawkeye, Shudack injured his groin on the final day of minicamp. He made his NFL debut on Nov. 27 against Cincinnati, the first of two games subbing for the injured Bullock. Following those two games, he returned to the practice squad and finished the season there. 

In relief of Bullock, Shudack was 3-4 on field goals, going 1-1 between 20-29 yards and 2-3 from between 30-39 yards. He was 1-1 on extra points during that span.  

At Iowa, Shudack ended his final season converting 24 of 28 field goals (85.7 percent) with a long of 51 yards. His field goal percentage ranked him fourth-best for a single season in Iowa history. It was his only season as the starting kicker for the Hawkeyes.  

Though released, Bullock remains an option, having finished 2022 converting 18-20 (85%) field goals, including 5-5 from 20-29, 5-5 from 30-39, 6-8 from 40-49, and 1-2 from 50 yards or more.  He was a perfect 28-28 on extra points. 

Should the Titans look to the draft ( I highly doubt they would spend a pick on a kicker), Ohio State's Noah Ruggles is the top available. 

A two-year starter for the Buckeyes, Ruggles connected on 37-41 attempts after transferring from North Carolina while going 17-20 in his final season in Columbus. 

In his final season, Ruggles was accurate from inside 50 yards, with two of his three misses coming from beyond that mark and the other between 30-39 yards. 

One of those two misses from beyond 50 yards came in the final ten seconds of the national semifinal game that would have given the Buckeyes a win over Georgia and a place in the College Football National Championship game.  

Of course, there are always other free-agent kickers on the street that the Titans could entertain during training camp, but as of this moment, it's Shudack's opening to secure the role for 2023. 

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