One of the Detroit Lions’ most surprising stories of 2024 is Bates’ rise. A kid who never got an NFL chance and hadn’t kicked a field goal since high school shocked everyone by nailing a 64-yard field goal at Ford Field to win a UFL game for the Michigan Panthers.
For a brief moment, it captivated fans, who clamored for Bates to join the Lions. Despite early struggles in camp, Bates found his rhythm and delivered an outstanding rookie season. It’ll be exciting to see how he develops from here.
However, Lions general manager Brad Holmes made it clear early on that the team would seek competition for Bates. Now that the draft process has begun, the Lions are scouting and speaking with kickers.
Last week, during Shrine Bowl week, the Lions met with Miami kicker Andres Borregales.
This doesn’t mean the Lions will draft a kicker—few teams ever do—but it shows they are committed to keeping an eye on the position. Expect an extra kicker or two on the training camp roster this summer.
While it’s Bates’ job for now, the difficulty of finding reliable kickers in the NFL makes having a strong backup essential. This summer will reveal who the added competition will be.
