For the first time during the Brad Holmes-Dan Campbell era, there isn’t a question at the kicker position. For a 40-year stretch, the Detroit Lions have been spoiled at kicker, leaning on Eddie Murray from 1980 to 1991, then turning to Lions legend Jason Hanson from 1992 to 2012, and finally deploying Matt Prater from 2014 to 2020. But for the last three seasons, the Lions have tried kicker after kicker, and it didn’t seem like anybody was a long-term option.
That was until the team signed Jake Bates last season.
Let’s take a look at how Bates did in his rookie year and project if the Lions should add him to the list of players they should extend.
Previous installments: TE Sam LaPorta, EDGE Aidan Hutchinson
Expectations heading into 2024
With the kicker position questionable under Michael Badgley, the Lions decided to bring in some training camp competition. After a strong season with the Michigan Panthers, the Lions signed Bates to a two-year contract. In the UFL, Bates went 17-for-22 on field goals (77.3%), but his accuracy from distance was most impressive, including a sensational 64-yard field goal. The Lions are known for opting to go for it on fourth down under head coach Dan Campbell, but if they had the option to kick from distance instead of risking a possible turnover, the team was all for it.
Bates entered training camp as direct competition with Badgley—who appeared to be winning the battle early in camp. Bates was struggling, but then Badgley tore his hamstring in training camp, ending his 2024 season and giving Bates a more direct chance to win the job. Bates proved he was up to the task and was handed the keys to the starting kicker job.
Actual role in 2024
Note: Stats are regular season only unless otherwise stated
17 games (17 starts)
Stats: 26-for-29 on field goals, 64-for-67 on extra points, longest kick from 58 yards.
20-29 yards: 3-for-3
30-39 yards: 10-for-10
40-49 yards: 7-for-8
50-59 yards: 6-for-8
Bates did well as the starter for Detroit, and his clutch gene had to be shown early on in the season. In the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, Bates made a 32-yard field goal to tie the game with 17 seconds left. The Lions would go on to win in overtime, 26-20. His first game-winning kick was against the Minnesota Vikings, as Bates made a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left, and the Lions would win 31-29.
His most memorable kick of the year was the game-winner against the Houston Texans, where the Lions came back down by 16 to win off a 52-yard field goal from Bates, beating Houston 26-23.
Finally, Bates also made a 35-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Green Bay Packers in December to win 34-31. So, in four games, Bates was called upon to either win the game or force overtime, and Bates answered the call every single time.
Outlook for 2025
After having a strong rookie season, Bates has become a fan favorite, as it appears the Lions might have their answer at kicker. For Bates, the Lions are wondering, can he do it again? While they would love to avoid having Bates kick game-winning field goals, as they would prefer to win with the least amount of stress possible, if he can answer the calls again in the upcoming season, that would be a big boost. Bates was already trusted a bit more than normal for free agent kickers, as he signed a two-year deal with Detroit rather than a typical one-year deal.
So, already, the Lions saw something in him and figured if he was good enough, it would be better to keep him around that extra year. Well, now the Lions have Bates in a contract year, and in a league that doesn’t have many good kickers at the moment, if you have your guy, you want to lock him up as soon as possible.
While the kicker market isn’t anything to worry about financially, the Lions will most likely wait until the end of the season to try and re-sign Bates. They also need to see another full season of his talents on display. When it comes to kickers, one season isn’t enough to prove your worth. If you can be a consistent help to the team for at least two or three years, you will earn a long-term contract.
Bates is the only kicker on the roster as of the time of publishing, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Lions bring Badgley back for training camp to see if Bates can hold him off. Bates hasn’t had the same level of success as punter Jack Fox, where no competition is brought in. If Bates can continue to make big kicks and be clutch, he can turn into Fox, where the Lions wouldn’t bring in any competition for him.
The Lions could also do the opposite, though, and see how Bates does if his back isn’t up against the wall. If they don’t bring anybody in, they could test and see if Bates still is working on his game, or if he tries to ease into it, knowing nobody can take his job. It really could go either way.
Overall, Bates' strong rookie season in the NFL demonstrated that he has what it takes to succeed in the NFL. Whether it’s raining outside, playing indoors, or trying to seal a win for his team, Bates can do what you need him to. I believe he will have another strong season, and the Lions would have no choice but to lock him up for a multi-year deal to keep him in Detroit for as long as possible if he repeats last season’s performance.
