The NFL has a litany of great kickers. Evan McPherson of the Bengals. Chris Boswell of the Steelers. Johnny Townsend, Brandon McManus, Harrison Butker, and others have had a huge impact in the league. How does the AFC West division stack up?
Overview of the AFC West Division
There are four teams in the AFC West division: the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and the Los Angeles Chargers. There was a time when Seattle had a team and the Raiders were in Oakland, but those times are gone.
Kickers are more important in the NFL than in college. Kickers can through an entire season in college with nary an attempt. Thrown into a rookie season in the NFL and things change. The best teams in the league get there in part because they have someone to make big field goals at key times. When it comes to an AFC West ranking, where does everyone stand in the division?
Denver Broncos Kickers
New kicker Wil Lutz may rank second in the division already. Lutz spent seven seasons with the Saints before signing with the Broncos to replace incumbent Brandon McManus. His final season with the Saints was the only one in which he missed more than six field goals, but he rebounded with the Broncos.
The Georgia native has been one of the more consistent kickers in the league since coming into the NFL and got a contract extension. The Broncos have a lot to work on, but kicker is as solid as can be.
Find more about the future Denver Broncos odds here.
Denver Broncos place kicker Wil Lutz (16) against the New England Patriots of an NFL football game Sunday December 24, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
Kansas City Chiefs Kickers
Another kicker from just outside Atlanta, Georgia, Butker is one of the best kickers in the league. He is the only kicker to hit a kick longer than 56 yards in the Super Bowl, nailing a 57-yarder in the team’s Super Bowl LVIII win.
Butker has had a tremendous career starting right from his rookie season. The past two seasons alone have put him at the elite level of NFL kickers. All in, he missed just two kicks last season for the Super Bowl champions, which is why the Chiefs rank first in kicker play.
Las Vegas Raiders Kickers
Daniel Carlson is back even after last season, his worst since 2019. He hit 86.7% of his kicks, coming in under 90% for the first time since the team was in Oakland. Though he is in the bottom half of AFC West kickers, it isn’t by much.
If he can rebound to his 2021/22 status, when he was All-Pro both years, he could challenge Butker. When he is on, Carlson is one of the most underrated kickers in the NFL.
Los Angeles Chargers Kickers
A Texas native, “Dicker the Kicker” has bounced around a bit. He spent time with the Ravens, Rams, and Eagles before finding a home with the Chargers. Last season, he hit 19 of 20 kicks including five in a Week 16 game against the Bills.
With the rest of the division being what it is, Dicker is a narrow last in the division. He quietly had one of the best second half seasons in the NFL and bears watching this year.
Remember when the knock on our boy was he couldn’t kick 50 yarders? Ole Dicker the Kicker gonna be kicking 5 deuces on the regular this year. It’s all coming together🙏 pic.twitter.com/v7BKJXjB5W
— Herbert is the Standard – PROCESS TRUSTED⚡️ (@SunnySideUp211) May 12, 2024
Comparative Analysis of AFC West Kickers
The AFC West is pretty stacked when it comes to kickers. Butker is the obvious star, having hit just about every big kick in his career so far. Last season, he was as good as he’s ever been, and the Chiefs won the Super Bowl in part because of him.
The offseason didn’t change much. This coming season could see Carlson re-emerge as one of the best in the NFL if he can replicate past seasons. While teams like Minnesota, Seattle, Atlanta, Indianapolis, and the New York Giants struggle, the division is thriving.
Top Performances and Memorable Moments
The Chiefs have had a lot of memorable kicks, but there may be none bigger than the 2021 AFC Divisional Round. He hit a 49-yard field goal as time expired to force overtime; the Chiefs would win 42-36 in extra time.
Last season was rough for the division. The Raiders haven’t had a big kick since leaving Oakland. Matt Prater hit a 64-yarder for Denver in 2013 and John Carney was the man in San Diego for a decade, creating plenty of memorable moments.
Challenges Faced by Kickers
There are generally two main challenges facing kickers: the pressure and the elements. In an AFC West ranking – or any ranking, really – kickers are measured by their ability to hit a big kick at any time and in big games.
A field goal in the last second of a game can make or break seasons. Some kickers have defined their career by being able to hit field goals in big moments. When the weather is less than ideal, field goals become tougher and attempts far fewer.
The Future of AFC West Kickers
With the exception of one team here and there, the NFL doesn’t generally invest in kickers. The NFL Draft might unearth a few punters or kickers here and there, but they mostly arrive as undrafted rookie free agents.
The division currently belongs to Harrison Butker of the Chiefs. To some, only Justin Tucker is better. The Raiders have the biggest question mark with Daniel Carlson, originally drafted by the Vikings. He’s been around since the days of Oakland and had been steady before missing 4 kicks for the first time since 2019.
How to Evaluate a Kicker’s Performance
Evaluating the performance of a kicker is fairly easy. While making field goals might be cut and dry, opportunities come differently for everyone. One guy may have missed a lot of kicks but what is his field goal percentage like?
Length of kick is critical, too. Is a kicker missing from short or does he struggle to nail the long ball? Kicks are differently measured and missing isn’t great, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Each field goal is different, and a kicker can shake things off with one important hit compared to a few others missed.
Final Thoughts
Though they may not get the love they deserve, kickers are crucial to any good team. The top three kickers in the NFL can change the trajectory of a season for their teams, especially when the playoffs roll around. Those teams are glad to have these guys in there to take the big kicks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who are the current kickers for AFC West teams?
- Los Angeles Chargers: Cameron Dicker
- Denver Broncos: Wil Lutz
- Las Vegas Raiders: Daniel Carlson
- Kansas City Chiefs: Harrison Butker
What are common challenges faced by kickers in the AFC West?
Kickers in any division face similar challenges. A single field goal can carry a ton of pressure. It can mean the difference between a win or loss, the playoffs, or going home. Weather and the opposing defense can also alter the trajectory of a kick.
How important are kickers to a football team’s success?
Though they may not be as important as quarterbacks, a kicker can have a huge impact on a team. A good kicker like Justin Tucker can be critical in tight games. Teams like the Patriots have won Super Bowls because of kicking.
What are the key stats to evaluate a kicker’s performance?
For the most part, field goals made are a good stat to watch. Field goal percentage is important as well because a kicker may not have a lot of field goal attempts. Extra point percentage is another stat to watch for accuracy when field goal attempts aren’t very high.
Who are the best kickers in AFC West history?
Though kickers don’t get the notoriety, the AFC West division has had some very notable players kicking the ball. Sebastien Janikowski of the Oakland Raiders, John Carney of the Los Angeles (then San Diego) Chargers, and the legendary Morten Andersen for the Kansas City Chiefs, among others.
