The NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and we conclude our positional rankings series by examining the specialist positions of kickers and punters. Typically, only a handful of specialists are drafted each year, so instead of a traditional ranking, we will discuss players with the potential to be selected.
Historically, kickers have been drafted with an average overall pick of 174, which falls at the end of the 5th round. Surprisingly, more punters (21) have been drafted since 2014 compared to kickers (18), with three punters selected in the 4th round.
Among kickers, Tory Taylor (Iowa) stands out as a potential high draft pick. He holds the NCAA record for total punting yards (4479) and has been a three-time All-American. Taylor’s exceptional performance suggests he could be the highest-drafted punter in recent years, with a chance at a third-round selection.
Joshua Karty (Stanford) is a reliable kicker who made 91.1% of his field goal attempts over his final two seasons at Stanford. He has also converted eight field goals of 50-plus yards, including a career-long 61-yarder. Cam Little (Arkansas) is another promising kicker with a career field goal percentage of 82.8%. He has shown accuracy from 50-plus yards, making seven conversions out of 11 attempts.
Will Reichard (Alabama) brings experience and accuracy to the table. Over five seasons at Alabama, he has made 87% of his field goal attempts, showcasing consistency from under 40 yards with a 94.2% success rate.
These specialists have the potential to make an impact in the NFL, and we anticipate their names will be called before the 2024 NFL Draft concludes.
