The NFL’s interest in UFL kicker Jake Bates has been widely known in recent weeks. Bates has been making headlines in his season with the Michigan Panthers from Detroit. It appears that he will have the opportunity to play for the city’s NFL team as reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 that the Lions are expected to add him to their roster.
Bates initially signed with the Texans last year after going undrafted but was waived before the preseason. This was not surprising as Bates did not attempt any field goals in college. In college at Texas State and Arkansas, Bates was only used for kickoffs, utilizing his leg strength from playing college soccer at Central Arkansas. However, Bates has made a name for himself in the UFL.
Bates had a strong start to the season, making 15 of 18 field goal attempts, before ending the season with a record of 21-for-28. While his initial accuracy was impressive, his leg strength stood out. Among his seven missed kicks, five were from over 50 yards, but he still managed to make seven of 12 long-distance attempts. Three of those makes were from 60 yards or further.
Not one to shy away from pressure situations, Bates has made two game-winning kicks, including a career-long 64-yarder. His 64-yard kick is only surpassed by Justin Tucker‘s 66-yarder at Detroit’s stadium. However, Bates did miss a 53-yard game-winning attempt in the regular season finale.
Several NFL teams have shown interest in Bates, but due to his contract with the UFL team, he was unable to sign with any team until the end of the UFL season. With the Panthers’ loss to the Birmingham Stallions, Bates will soon be free to sign with an NFL team. Wilson reports that the official deal won’t be signed until the following Tuesday. In addition to the Lions, Bates recently visited the Packers and Commanders, and the Ravens and two other teams have also shown interest.
When Bates arrives in Detroit, he will compete with the Lions’ current kicker Michael Badgley. Badgley took over late last season for Riley Patterson, going four-for-four on field goals but missing two extra points. Despite his perfect performance in the playoffs, Badgley wasn’t tested in critical moments as Coach Dan Campbell often chose to go for it in long field goal scenarios.
The only other kicker on the roster is James Turner, an undrafted rookie from Michigan. Turner showed inconsistent performance during his college career, making Turner a questionable choice for long-distance kicks. Bates, on the other hand, could be the solution with his accuracy, leg strength, and ability in pressure situations. If he can continue his success into his first NFL season, Bates may have a good chance of securing the job in 2024.
