TODAY, 9:05am: Bates will be inking a two-year deal with the Lions, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
FRIDAY, 10:00pm: The NFL interest in UFL kicker Jake Bates has been no secret over the past several weeks. Bates has been taking the football world by storm in his season with the Michigan Panthers out of Detroit. Now, it’s seeming like he’ll get a chance to play for the city’s NFL team as Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports that the Lions are expected to add the big leg to their roster.
Bates signed with the Texans last year after going undrafted but was waived just prior to the preseason. This wasn’t extremely surprising as Bates didn’t kick any field goals in college. During time at Texas State and Arkansas, Bates was utilized singularly on kickoffs, using leg strength gained in two seasons of college soccer at Central Arkansas. Finding his place in the UFL, though, Bates has taken the football world by storm.
Bates started off the season extremely hot, making 15 of 18 field goal attempts, before eventually cooling off to end the season going 21-for-28 on field goals. While the initial accuracy was admirable, what really made an impression was his leg strength. Of his seven misses, five were from over 50 yards, yet he still ended the season seven-for-12 from long distance. Of those seven makes from 50+, three of those were from 60 yards or further.
The young kicker doesn’t shy away from the spotlight either. Two of his makes have been game-winners, including a career-long 64-yarder to open the season. His 64-yard make is second to only Justin Tucker‘s 66-yarder in Detroit’s stadium. He did miss a 53-yard game-winning attempt in the team’s regular season finale, though.
Bates has received interest from a few NFL teams, but because of his contract with the UFL squad, he was unable to sign with anyone until the team’s season came to an end. With Bates’ Panthers losing to the Birmingham Stallions last weekend, the window will soon open for Bates to sign. Wilson reports that any official deal won’t be signed until Tuesday of next week. Aside from the Lions, Bates recently visited the Packers and Commanders, per Wilson. The Ravens were also listed as a team of interest, and Wilson notes two other teams showed interest, as well.
Whenever Bates does arrive in Detroit, he will be in competition with the Lions’ incumbent kicker Michael Badgley. Badgley took over late in the season for Riley Patterson, who served as the team’s kicker for 13 games last year. In replacement duty, Badgely went four-for-four on field goal attempts, though he did miss two extra points. During the team’s run to the NFC Championship Game, Badgley was a perfect three-for-three on field goals and 11-for-11 on extra points. Despite this consistency, Badgley was rarely tested in big moments. Throughout the playoffs, head coach Dan Campbell repeatedly opted to go for it in long field goal scenarios.
The only other option currently on the roster is James Turner, an undrafted rookie from Michigan. A grad transfer for the Wolverines after four years at Louisville, Turner showed inconsistent production at the collegiate level. Turner missed eight field goals and two extra points in his sophomore season with the Cardinals. He never made more than 20 field goals in a season and only had a career-long of 50 yards, so he may not be the answer to Campbell’s hesitation from long distance.
That answer could come, though, in the form of Bates. With his first opportunity to placekick last year, Bates caught everyone’s attention with early accuracy, a strong leg, and a clutch ability in big moments. If he can carry that early success into his first NFL season, he should stand a solid chance at beating out Badgley and Turner for the job in 2024.
He’s about to become the boredest man on the planet
Bates will transform the Lions kicking game and make Ben Johnson’s offense that much more dangerous
How were the patriots not in on this kid
Apparently he wanted to stay in Michigan.
Most kickers get less respect than Rodney Dangerfield so I always support them. I believe that playing in a climate controlled stadium sometimes gives a kicker a false sense of confidence but we will see if that is the case with Bates.
He’ll be kicking in the same home stadium since the Panthers and Lions both play in Ford Field. I assume his confidence will be pretty high.
I haven’t been this excited since kick-a-licious
Huge leg, why sign with the Lions lol. MCDC won’t use it.
No idea why ‘not making more than 20 field goals in a season’ is a problem, assuming you aren’t missing a bunch. That simply means your team is scoring TDs instead of FG. Turner did lead the Big Ten in XP, because he had the most opportunities. Hope the Lions can keep Turner on the practice squad, he should be solid and reports are he’s having a good camp. Makes sense for the Lions to sign an experienced kicker, but need to see more than 1 great season from him before anointing him the next great Lions kicker.
I think this is a great move by Ben Johnson and MCDC. Just hear me out lol
Come playoff time have both these guys on the active roster. Badgley is the primary kicker, accurate and trustworthy from 40 or less and a very solid XP guy (he just doesn’t have a big leg). If a situation presents its self where there isn’t enough time on the clock for a TD and they cannot get in range for Badgley to attempt a 40 yard FG, they will still have an opportunity to get Bates in position to kick a possible 64 yarder.
I don’t think Bates is taking the job from Badgley, I think he is being brought in to do exactly what he is good at: Giving his team an opportunity to kick a FG from 50+ to 60+ when all other options are off the table.
Nice thought, but I don’t think any team would use a roster space during the playoffs for an extra kicker.
Plus, I don’t think the Lions would manage to keep him on the practice squad. Some kicker needy team would scoop him up. There was interest from several teams.
Its not conventional but it would be smart to have a specialist who can come in and kick a 60 yarder when your current guy cannot do it. Obviously every team wants a kicker who can do it all, but why not take 2 kickers with different strengths and weaknesses and just mesh that duo together to handle situations as they arise?
When you have 2 QB’s you really have zero QB’s but when you look at every other position on the field you want guys with different skill sets who play at the same position. Being able to rotate a guy in based on the situation has always been a theme on offense, why not have a kicking team with different skillsets?
I know teams don’t carry extra kickers but I won’t be shocked if DET does it a little different this year.
Thank you for reading.
why not have a kicking team with different skillsets?
K1 – The guy for normal situations
K2- The guy for long range Hail Mary’s
K3- The guy for inclement weather and blizzards in Buffalo
K4- The guy who can pass better than Garo Yepremian when that SB attempt is blocked. link to youtube.com
Bates signed a two year deal, and had multiple teams interested it’s his job, unless he craps the bed in preseason or gets hurt.