On Monday, John Whiticar asked how many starting positions are going to be available to fill this offseason for the Detroit Lions. I’ll let you read his full conclusions here, but he did bring up what I thought was an interesting discussion at kicker. While admitting that Jake Bates is almost certainly going to be the kicker in 2026, the Lions could probably use some competition as both insurance and someone to push Bates after a down year.
“Though I would support bringing in competition at kicker, the Green Bay Packers learned the hard way that good kicking is hard to find. The Lions could do a lot worse than Jake Bates, so he should be the starter barring a horrific training camp.”
I want to dive a little deeper into this question, because as we learned this past weekend in the NFL Wild Card playoffs, kicking could be the difference between winning and losing. LOOKING AT YOU, BRANDON MCMANUS.
Should the Lions bring in competition for Jake Bates?
My answer: First, let’s examine Bates’ 2025 season. After going 26-of-29 in 2024 (and 64-of-67 on extra points), Bates made just 27-of-34 this past season (and 54-of-56 XPs). That accuracy of 79.4% ranked 30th out of 38 qualifying kickers.
That said, Bates made all of his field goals from 20-39 yards, only missed two (9-of-11) from 40-49, but struggled from long distance, making just 4-of-9 from 50+.
Perhaps most importantly, Bates continues to be extremely clutch. In his two years in Detroit, he has yet to miss a game-tying or go-ahead kick in the final minute of regulation. This year, he blasted a 55-yard field goal to force overtime against the Giants, and he finished the year with a 42-yard game-winner in windy Chicago.
In the midst of his rocky second season in Detroit, Bates received a full-throated endorsement from special teams coordinator Dave Fipp.
“Just look at the big picture. I mean, do you have a good player or not? I mean to me, clearly, we have a very, very good player,” Fipp said in December. “If you put him on the streets, there would be a bunch of teams claiming him right away. And the truth is, we’d have a really hard time finding a guy even near the same player as him.”
Bates is facing potential free agency as an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) this offseason. The Lions could offer what amounts to a veteran minimum, one-year deal, and Bates would only be able to sign the tender or sit out the season. However, unlike the rest of the team’s ERFAs, the Lions have not signed him yet. That likely means they’re looking to give him a bigger contract, but it’s also possible Bates is trying to force the issue. Regardless, I don’t think there is much of a chance the Lions move on from him.
Bringing in competition is a different conversation, though. Last year, the Lions opted to leave Bates alone and give him all of the offseason reps. This year, I wouldn’t mind adding another leg. Not only will it give Bates time to rest his leg when necessary, but I don’t think there should be any position above competition. It’s a hallmark of this team and culture that you have to earn your spot on the team. When asked about how the team needs to improve in 2026 to avoid another disappointing season, Lions coach Dan Campbell spoke about competition above everything else.
“Let’s get that hunger back, and we’re going to bring in some guys to compete,” Campbell said. “That’s the thing. We need competition in a lot of areas because that brings out the best in players, whether it’s with some of the guys that were here or the guys that we bring in. That’s how you elevate the roster.”
So I’m with John. While I fully expect Bates to be the kicker in 2026, let’s try to elevate his play by bringing in a competitor.
What do you think? Share your thoughts on the Lions’ kicker situation in the comment section below.
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