Would you Pick a PK with a Top Pick

[wagne591]

Just hear me out.  Our Kickers have been a question mark for most of the year and even when we relied on Prater he wasn't making them from 50+ or wasn't asked to very often.  PK is a weapon in the NFL and with the extra point being a 34 Yard field goal now, shouldn't we consider taking a PK with one of our top three picks in the upcoming draft?  

 

I would really consider it seeing the struggles we have had this season with kicking.  in the Texans game, Browns game, Eagles game.  If we made an extra point in the Texans and Eagles game both games are likely to become Bills wins instead of losses.   Plus when Bass was healthy he was a crap shot anyway weather making it or not.  I got some kickers from Chatgpt because kickers aren't listed on draft prospect boards or are in many rankings:

 

Here are some of the top college placekickers (PK) projected to be in the conversation for the 2026 NFL Draft — based on recent position-rankings and draft boards from scouting outlets:

🔝 Top Kickers Eligible for the 2026 Draft

Tate Sandell — Oklahoma – Rated #1 kicker prospect on major 2026 draft kicker boards. Drafttek

Trey Smack — Florida – Highly accurate and experienced in SEC play. Drafttek

Kansei Matsuzawa — Hawaii – Strong leg with good consistency; sometimes listed just outside the core rankings but considered a sleeper. Drafttek+1

Laith Marjan — Kansas – Solid mid-range option on many 2026 PK lists. Drafttek

Dominic Zvada — Michigan – Bigger leg and good athletic frame; appears on multiple 2026 kicker lists. Drafttek

Will Ferrin — BYU – Known for range and consistency, especially at altitude. Drafttek+1

Noah Burnette — Notre Dame – A later-round prospect with decent accuracy profile. Drafttek

Drew Stevens — Iowa – Appears in some boards as a draft-eligible specialist. Drafttek

 

I know we need WR's also and it is a crime and it is an offense worth firing Beane over if not addresses multiple times in the draft or offseason this year.  But Kickers are pretty valuable also.  

[mushypeaches]

I can not give this post enough eye rolls

[uninja]

The prevailing wisdom and relative value of draft picks says you shouldn't spend a high draft pick on a PK, it rarely works out

[ClemsonBills]

Lets save that for the Raiduhhhs

[dave mcbride]

15 minutes ago, wagne591 said:

Just hear me out.  Our Kickers have been a question mark for most of the year and even when we relied on Prater he wasn't making them from 50+ or wasn't asked to very often.  PK is a weapon in the NFL and with the extra point being a 34 Yard field goal now, shouldn't we consider taking a PK with one of our top three picks in the upcoming draft?  

 

I would really consider it seeing the struggles we have had this season with kicking.  in the Texans game, Browns game, Eagles game.  If we made an extra point in the Texans and Eagles game both games are likely to become Bills wins instead of losses.   Plus when Bass was healthy he was a crap shot anyway weather making it or not.  I got some kickers from Chatgpt because kickers aren't listed on draft prospect boards or are in many rankings:

 

Here are some of the top college placekickers (PK) projected to be in the conversation for the 2026 NFL Draft — based on recent position-rankings and draft boards from scouting outlets:

🔝 Top Kickers Eligible for the 2026 Draft

Tate Sandell — Oklahoma – Rated #1 kicker prospect on major 2026 draft kicker boards. Drafttek

Trey Smack — Florida – Highly accurate and experienced in SEC play. Drafttek

Kansei Matsuzawa — Hawaii – Strong leg with good consistency; sometimes listed just outside the core rankings but considered a sleeper. Drafttek+1

Laith Marjan — Kansas – Solid mid-range option on many 2026 PK lists. Drafttek

Dominic Zvada — Michigan – Bigger leg and good athletic frame; appears on multiple 2026 kicker lists. Drafttek

Will Ferrin — BYU – Known for range and consistency, especially at altitude. Drafttek+1

Noah Burnette — Notre Dame – A later-round prospect with decent accuracy profile. Drafttek

Drew Stevens — Iowa – Appears in some boards as a draft-eligible specialist. Drafttek

 

I know we need WR's also and it is a crime and it is an offense worth firing Beane over if not addresses multiple times in the draft or offseason this year.  But Kickers are pretty valuable also.  

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6621651/2025/09/12/jake-moody-49ers-nfl-kickers/

 

'Young kickers usually struggle in the NFL. Kickers who are drafted rarely remain with their original team.

And the select few drafted early, well, they often have the roughest time of all.

...

Joe Nedney, who kicked for 14 seasons, the final six in San Francisco, said he looks for two things when watching NFL kickers.

The first is mechanical. He said that, like a lot of young kickers, Moody has flexible hips, which means he sometimes over-rotates on his attempts. When Moody misses, he tends to pull the ball.

"Older kickers — maybe because they're not as flexible — have a more compact swing," he said.

He also examines how they react to a miss. He said kickers have to convey a sense that they're unbothered, that they'll nail the next attempt.

"And with Jake, I think we all teetered on, 'Ooh, do I need to be worried?’" Nedney said. "When Jake missed, he didn't have a demeanor of, 'It's OK, I've got it.’"

All young kickers face challenges, beginning with sky-high expectations.'

 

Edited January 5 by dave mcbride

[May Day 10]

Not a high pick... but Id listen to a 5th round and later

 

Was super impressed with the Ole Miss kicker but he could probably be a UDFA.  

 

If they can find an accurate big boot kicker who can probably handle some elements and has a good head, I would be happy if they drafted him

[dorquemada]

lmao, Tate Sandell missed 2 FGs in the 4Q to give the game away to alabama.  

[Kirby Jackson]

Of course not. There are such things as stupid questions. 

[wagne591]

Sebastian Janikowski – Placekicker
• Drafted 17th overall in 2000 by the Oakland Raiders
• The most recent first-round kicker, and arguably the most successful one. 

 

12th all time in the NFL in scoring with 1,913 points

80.4% made rate across 19 seasons

 

I know people don't want to take a kicker in rounds 1-3 but let me know who is second on the roster as far as having a direct impact on the outcome of games.  The Kicker.  Look at last night for instance that game alone.  Missed Xtra point and a 44-yard missed FG to win. And right now we are probably rolling into a playoff game with an unproven kicker or one that is on a gimp leg and is 41 years old.   

[gonzo1105]

Picking kickers high in the draft has rarely worked out. I’m talking 4th round or higher:

 

Jake Moody Round 3: Still in the league but a bust journeyman now

 

Chad Ryland Round 4: out of the NFL 

 

Cade York Round 4: Still in the league , busy journeyman 

 

Roberto Aguayo Round 2: Bust out of the league

 

Alex Henery Round 4: Bust lasted 4 seasons

 

The last kicker to go in the top 4 rounds and be great was Gostkowski in 2006. If your going to invest a draft pick in a kicker 5th round or later you seem to have a better hit rate 

[dave mcbride]

1 minute ago, wagne591 said:

Sebastian Janikowski – Placekicker
• Drafted 17th overall in 2000 by the Oakland Raiders
• The most recent first-round kicker, and arguably the most successful one. 

 

12th all time in the NFL in scoring with 1,913 points

80.4% made rate across 19 seasons

 

I know people don't want to take a kicker in rounds 1-3 but let me know who is second on the roster as far as having a direct impact on the outcome of games.  The Kicker.  Look at last night for instance that game alone.  Missed Xtra point and a 44-yard missed FG to win. And right now we are probably rolling into a playoff game with an unproven kicker or one that is on a gimp leg and is 41 years old.   

See the Athletic article above. 

 

Also, the Bills kicking game has been the most accurate in team history this year, connecting on 90.5 percent of its field goal attempts. Plus Prater hit XPs at a 94 percent rate, which is above league average. And they got their kickers from the scrap heap!

Edited January 5 by dave mcbride

[Kirby Jackson]

1 minute ago, wagne591 said:

Sebastian Janikowski – Placekicker
• Drafted 17th overall in 2000 by the Oakland Raiders
• The most recent first-round kicker, and arguably the most successful one. 

 

12th all time in the NFL in scoring with 1,913 points

80.4% made rate across 19 seasons

 

I know people don't want to take a kicker in rounds 1-3 but let me know who is second on the roster as far as having a direct impact on the outcome of games.  The Kicker.  Look at last night for instance that game alone.  Missed Xtra point and a 44-yard missed FG to win. And right now we are probably rolling into a playoff game with an unproven kicker or one that is on a gimp leg and is 41 years old.   

In his 19 seasons he went on to 1 Pro Bowl.

 

It’s a stupid idea and that’s why teams don’t do it. 

[wagne591]

3 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Of course not. There are such things as stupid questions. 

the draft is a crap shoot any way why not take a risk on a kicker.  How many first or second rounders have we whiffed at the past couple years?  Boogie, Elam, to name a few and some have not totally lived up to their reputation as well.  Maybe not in rounds 1-3 but what about 4-7.  I mean we did draft a punter there before and look how that turned out.

[Poleshifter]

Hear me out - NO

 

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

I would absolutely NOT Janikowski a pick, but a 6th or 7th?  Yeah, I would consider it, just as they did with Ariza 

[BuffaloBillyG]

23 minutes ago, wagne591 said:

Just hear me out.  Our Kickers have been a question mark for most of the year and even when we relied on Prater he wasn't making them from 50+ or wasn't asked to very often.  PK is a weapon in the NFL and with the extra point being a 34 Yard field goal now, shouldn't we consider taking a PK with one of our top three picks in the upcoming draft?  

 

I would really consider it seeing the struggles we have had this season with kicking.  in the Texans game, Browns game, Eagles game.  If we made an extra point in the Texans and Eagles game both games are likely to become Bills wins instead of losses.   Plus when Bass was healthy he was a crap shot anyway weather making it or not.  I got some kickers from Chatgpt because kickers aren't listed on draft prospect boards or are in many rankings:

 

Here are some of the top college placekickers (PK) projected to be in the conversation for the 2026 NFL Draft — based on recent position-rankings and draft boards from scouting outlets:

🔝 Top Kickers Eligible for the 2026 Draft

Tate Sandell — Oklahoma – Rated #1 kicker prospect on major 2026 draft kicker boards. Drafttek

Trey Smack — Florida – Highly accurate and experienced in SEC play. Drafttek

Kansei Matsuzawa — Hawaii – Strong leg with good consistency; sometimes listed just outside the core rankings but considered a sleeper. Drafttek+1

Laith Marjan — Kansas – Solid mid-range option on many 2026 PK lists. Drafttek

Dominic Zvada — Michigan – Bigger leg and good athletic frame; appears on multiple 2026 kicker lists. Drafttek

Will Ferrin — BYU – Known for range and consistency, especially at altitude. Drafttek+1

Noah Burnette — Notre Dame – A later-round prospect with decent accuracy profile. Drafttek

Drew Stevens — Iowa – Appears in some boards as a draft-eligible specialist. Drafttek

 

I know we need WR's also and it is a crime and it is an offense worth firing Beane over if not addresses multiple times in the draft or offseason this year.  But Kickers are pretty valuable also.  

Absolutely love when these are the first words of a post. It means you know this is terrible, but darn it you're gonna post it anyway. 

 

But hey, you looked up some names of kickers coming out. So I'll give you that. I'll call ya in round 7 when a kicker pick is viable.

[wagne591]

5 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

See the Athletic article above. 

 

Also, the Bills kicking game has been the most accurate in team history this year, connecting on 90.5 percent of its field goal attempts. Plus Prater hit XPs at a 94 percent rate, which is above league average. And they got their kickers from the scrap heap!

Prater was 1 for 1 from 50+ yards and that was a 52 yarder.  We have guys in the league kicking 60+ yard goals like nothing.  I think kicking is a weapon that is overlooked.  

[dave mcbride]

Just now, wagne591 said:

Prater was 1 for 1 from 50+ yards and that was a 52 yarder.  We have guys in the league kicking 60+ yard goals like nothing.  I think kicking is a weapon that is overlooked.  

Prater had at one point the longest kick in league history - 64 yards. He can definitely still make it from 55. He kicked a 62 yards in 2023 and a 57 yarder last year.

[BigAl2526]

I wouldn't even consider a pick higher than the fifth round being used on a placekicker.  I'm not even anxious for Buffalo to do that in April.

 

[wagne591]

4 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

In his 19 seasons he went on to 1 Pro Bowl.

 

It’s a stupid idea and that’s why teams don’t do it. 

The pro bowl is a popularity contest and a joke anyway.