Lions News

[chemiclord]

I think the problem is that the Lions do not seem particularly concerned in "finding one." They've been bouncing between Badgley and Patterson for the last couple of years while entertaining an XFL kicker for about a month before tossing him away with disinterest.

If they were actually bringing in people and kicking the tires, you probably wouldn't see quite this much handwringing. But they aren't. I think we have to accept that the Holmes and Co. braintrust thinks a guy like Badgely is the answer, and when they do look for someone, it's more trying to find someone who can do what Badgely or Patterson do, but better.

[Mainevent]

I think Lions fans were so spoiled by the Murray, Hanson, Prater years that they don't understand this is what normally happens with kickers until you find one. You muddle around in a gong show environment until you find one. And then when you find one, you keep him. If you look at the top 10 kickers the majority are drafted in the later rounds but there are some undrafted free agents. Some of the drafted guys are not with their original team.

It's not like other positions, even if you wanted to spend money or a decent draft pick you might not get someone any better than Badgley. Cody Russell was big on drafting Cade York, he is a free agent after flaming out on two teams.

Yep, you can find a rookie with a bigger leg and better upside, but there’s no guarantee that you get better production initially. So what’s the threshold for watching a rookie struggle if you have a team that is a contender?

Maybe they can get lucky and find a guy like Cowboys did. But you can also end with an Anders Carlson like GB did. And to Chemi’s point, this regime hasn’t seemed all that interested so far in spending much effort to do so.

Personally, I would not mind them spending a later round pick on Reichardt or the Stanford kid. But they are just as likely to find a future stud trolling the castoff pile or another team’s practice squad.

[Whitley]

If a Lutz type hits FA why would they not go after him?

[froot loops]

I think the problem is that the Lions do not seem particularly concerned in "finding one." They've been bouncing between Badgley and Patterson for the last couple of years while entertaining an XFL kicker for about a month before tossing him away with disinterest.

If they were actually bringing in people and kicking the tires, you probably wouldn't see quite this much handwringing. But they aren't. I think we have to accept that the Holmes and Co. braintrust thinks a guy like Badgely is the answer, and when they do look for someone, it's more trying to find someone who can do what Badgely or Patterson do, but better.

I don't think many franchises have an objective to go out to find one. A few may spend like a 3rd rounder like the Browns did with York, but most either find them as really late round picks or UDFAs.

When you find one, it's normally pure chance. Guys bounce around until they become reliable.

[Mainevent]

If a Lutz type hits FA why would they not go after him?

If a clearly better veteran hits the market, I’m sure they would kick the tires. Lutz in particular might be of interest because he may have a relationship with Campbell from NO days. Are the Lions going to pay him $4M a year? Because that’s what it is probably going to cost.

[jaadam4]

I think Badgely is a perfectly average NFL kicker, and is more than good enough for what Campbell wants to use him for.

I disagree with their seeming lack of interest in seriously upgrading the position, but if my biggest disagreement with a front office is their decisions at place kicker, then I think they are doing all right.

Yes to all of this

[whatever_gong82]

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/02/23/detroit-lions-nfl-free-agency-chris-jones-chiefs/72716424007/

[maxw3ll]

If a Lutz type hits FA why would they not go after him?

Lutz is not great. Even in thin air of Denver he struggled.

[El Axe]

I'm pretty much in agreement with everyone on Lions need for kicker and where Badgely is. I think he's below average, but the difference between below average and average for an NFL kicker is mostly nitpicking. I don't have any problem if that's where they end up.

Where I slightly differ in opinion is that I think Reichard is an outstanding prospect similar to Moody. He's got a big accurate leg and he's kicked reliably in extremely high pressure situations at Alabama. IMO, his kicking was one of the things that made the Alabama-UM semifinal game closer than it should have been. It was a significant advantage for Bama in that game.

I also may differ in that I see so few areas where the Lions would upgrade via draft that investing in a kicker with Reichard's resume would give a bigger boost to winning than most other prospects. Look at how rookie kicker upgrades boosted the 49ers and the Bengals in recent seasons.

I would probably draft Reichard at 92 (about where Moody was drafted).

[mason reese]

I'm pretty much in agreement with everyone on Lions need for kicker and where Badgely is. I think he's below average, but the difference between below average and average for an NFL kicker is mostly nitpicking. I don't have any problem if that's where they end up.

Where I slightly differ in opinion is that I think Reichard is an outstanding prospect similar to Moody. He's got a big accurate leg and he's kicked reliably in extremely high pressure situations at Alabama. IMO, his kicking was one of the things that made the Alabama-UM semifinal game closer than it should have been. It was a significant advantage for Bama in that game.

I also may differ in that I see so few areas where the Lions would upgrade via draft that investing in a kicker with Reichard's resume would give a bigger boost to winning than most other prospects. Look at how rookie kicker upgrades boosted the 49ers and the Bengals in recent seasons.

I would probably draft Reichard at 92 (about where Moody was drafted).

Did Moody really boost the 49ers over Robbie Gould? Sure he’s 2 or 3 million cheaper, but Moody’s production seems pretty similar. Using a 3rd round pick for team that doesn’t kick very many FGs seems kind of expensive

i think the 49ers were tired of paying Gould $4+ million but didn’t want to lose his production. I don’t think the Lions are in the same situation

[froot loops]

This forum goes back at least 25 years and the field goal kicker topic is evergreen.

[Whitley]

Lutz is not great. Even in thin air of Denver he struggled.

Yeah going 30/34 in fg with 3/5 beyond 50 really sucks.

[El Axe]

Did Moody really boost the 49ers over Robbie Gould? Sure he’s 2 or 3 million cheaper, but Moody’s production seems pretty similar. Using a 3rd round pick for team that doesn’t kick very many FGs seems kind of expensive

i think the 49ers were tired of paying Gould $4+ million but didn’t want to lose his production. I don’t think the Lions are in the same situation

Lol, I'm not sure how I got here, defending picking a kicker. It's really not that big of a deal to me, but as has been pointed out, the fact that we're debating it as much as we are is a great sign about the state of things for the Lions.

Earlier I put together my priority list of what the Lions need, it might be the shortest list of my Lions fandom. I put kicker on that list. Most years, there's not much you can do about that without getting lucky. However, every so often there is the rare prospect who not only has a big accurate leg, but has also proven himself kicking in huge nationally televised games in crunch time situations. Last year, Moody was the first in awhile. Reichard seems to be another.

So, we have a short list of needs, Kicker is higher on that list than normal. There is the rare fantastic prospect available this year. I think we should draft him. It will probably take a 3rd round pick, given that Moody commanded one last year.

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/2/26/24083401/2024-nfl-free-agent-detroit-lions-top-priority-jaylon-johnson

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/2/26/24083481/detroit-lions-gm-brad-holmes-explains-how-nfl-cap-increase-will-impact-offseason