Breaking News: Potential Free Agent Kickers That Might Interest the Rams this Offseason…
The Los Angeles Rams are in dire need of improved kicking performance next season, especially considering the subpar output from the position in 2023, where Brett Maher and Lucas Havrisik collectively missed 16 field goals and extra points.
Matt Gay had provided stability to the Rams’ kicking game for a few seasons before securing the most lucrative free agent contract for a kicker in NFL history last spring. However, the Rams opted for a cost-effective approach, signing two undrafted free agents, Tanner Brown and Christopher Dunn, after the NFL Draft. Despite Brown winning the minicamp kicking competition, he was released in favor of Maher before the regular season began. Brown has since returned to the team’s offseason roster.
Will the Rams take away a lesson from this experience, realizing that better results might require a more substantial investment? Could they consider adding a seasoned kicker in the upcoming offseason, or will they stick to drafting or signing another undrafted free agent?
One potential option is Ka’imi Fairbairn, who boasted an impressive record last season, making 27 of his 28 field goal attempts and missing only one extra point. Fairbairn, aged 29, has shown his ability to kick from long distances, with a career-long of 61 yards set in 2021. His accuracy extends to kicks between 40-49 yards, where he has made 41 of 52 attempts, and beyond 50 yards, converting 29 of 40 tries.
While Fairbairn may not be the best kicker in the NFL, he could be the most feasible and dependable option for the Rams. However, his services would likely come at a cost of around four to five million dollars per year on a free agent contract.
Another option is Will Lutz, who joined the Denver Broncos via trade from the New Orleans Saints last season. Despite Denver’s advantageous altitude for kickers, Lutz’s performance was only mediocre, making 30 of 34 attempts and missing two extra points. However, his career-long field goal of 60 yards indicates his potential, albeit with a more affordable price tag of over $3 million annually.
Greg Zuerlein, currently with the New York Jets, presents another option for the Rams. Although he’s not the same player he once was and is now 36 years old, Zuerlein still possesses the ability to hit from deep, evidenced by a 60-yard field goal just two years ago. However, his accuracy has declined, hovering around 81-82% in recent years, though he could demand a salary exceeding his current $2.6 million annually with the Jets.
Chase McLaughlin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rounds off the list. At 27 years old, McLaughlin has demonstrated long-distance kicking ability, with a career-long of 57 yards. His performance in 2023 was particularly strong, making seven of eight attempts from beyond 50 yards and converting all 33 of his extra points. However, his inconsistency in previous seasons raises questions about his reliability as a long-term solution for the Rams.
In considering McLaughlin, the Rams would need to weigh his standout 2023 season against his prior performances to determine if he could indeed be their answer at kicker moving forward.
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