As the NFL Draft approaches, we analyze the specialist positions – kickers and punters. While not many specialists are typically drafted annually, we spotlight players with potential draft prospects. Historically, an average of 18 kickers have been drafted in the past ten years, with one exception in 2015. Surprisingly, more punters (21) have been selected since 2014, with three drafted in the fourth round. In terms of draft picks, kickers have been selected at an average overall pick of 174 (late 5th round), while punters average a pick of 191 (mid 6th round).
Among kickers, Tory Taylor (Iowa) stands out with his NCAA record-breaking 4479 total punting yards. As a three-time All-American, he won the Ray Guy Award for the nation’s top punter and holds the Big Ten Conference record for career average yards per punt (46.3). His impressive resume suggests a potential third-round selection, making him a prospect to watch for the highest-drafted punter in recent years.
Regarding kickers, several players have shown promise. Joshua Karty (Stanford) boasts a 91.1% field goal success rate in his final two seasons and has made eight 50-plus yard field goals, including a career-best 61-yarder. Cam Little (Arkansas) has made 53 of 64 field goal attempts (82.8%), with seven conversions from 50-plus yards. Will Reichard (Alabama) brings experience and accuracy, having made 87% of his field goal attempts over five seasons.