The Los Angeles Rams had one of the worst kicking situations in the NFL last season. It’s a testament to how bad things got that the Rams released Brett Maher and then brought him back, capturing just how poorly Los Angeles handled the position in 2023. Things need to improve in 2024.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, there are plenty of quality options available. The Rams also have the benefit of location, with a majority of their games being played in California meaning inclement weather is rarely an issue. Between favorable conditions and the opportunity to score a lot of points, this is an ideal landing spot for a kicker.
- Los Angeles Rams kicking stats: 2.6 field goal attempts per game (1st in NFL), 76.09 percent field-goal conversion rate (30th)
Let’s dive into our Rams kicker options for 2024.
Nick Folk, NFL free agent
If Los Angeles is going to address one of its biggest needs, it might as well go after one of the best NFL kickers. The New England Patriots inexplicably moved on from Nick Folk in 2023, allowing the Tennessee Titans to enjoy one of the most accurate kickers in football over the last three seasons.
- Nick Folk stats (2020-’23): 123-of-134 on field-goal attempts (91.8%), 54-of-65 (83.1%) from 40+
Folk, who will turn 40 in November, could return home to Los Angeles. He grew up in the region and starred at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. In the NFL, he earned a 2017 Pro Bowl selection and was the co-NFL scoring leader in 2021.
Most important with Folk is accuracy. He led the NFL in field-goal conversion rate (96.7 percent) last season, made 86.5 percent of his attempts in 2022, and had the sixth-highest success rate in 2021 (92.3 percent). If Sean McVay wants consistency, Folk is it.
Ka’imi Fairbairn, NFL free agent
While regional ties shouldn’t be a factor when searching for Rams kicking options, there’s another reliable leg with ties to Los Angeles. Ka’imi Fairbairn, who just turned 30 years old in January, was an All-American kicker and the Lou Groza Award winner for the UCLA Bruins.
Related: Former Los Angeles Rams player talks Chris Shula
Fairbairn led the NFL in scoring for the Houston Texans in 2018 and he’s consistently been one of the most productive kickers in football ever since. He did have a down year in 2017, converting just 78.9 percent of his field-goal attempts, but that’s the only season in the last four years with a success rate under 87 percent.
- Ka’imi Fairbairn stats (2022-’23): 94.9 percent field-goal conversion rate, 97.8 percent extra-point conversion rate, 22-of-24 from 40-plus yards
Fairbairn has demonstrated his accuracy time over time and the Rams would be keeping him in a kicker-friendly environment, not chancing the risk of a move into poor weather conditions would affect his accuracy. As for the team’s pitch to Fairbairn, the ability to kick for an explosive offense and being closer to home (Hawai’i) could prove very persuasive.
Related: Los Angeles Rams draft picks 2024
Chase McLaughlin, NFL free agent
Kicker is one of the most volatile positions in the NFL. One moment someone can be remarkably accurate in one year and the following season they practically can’t convert anything. There are also instances of the reverse happening, with Chase McLaughlin providing a perfect example.
McLaughlin entered the NFL in 2019 and bounced around the league with five different teams in his first two years. Through his first four seasons, the 6-foot-1 placekicker only made 78.8 percent of his field-goal attempts, including an alarming 19-of-32 from 40-49 yards out. Something changed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
- Chase McLaughlin stats 2023: 29-of-31 (93.5 percent success rate), 7-of-8 from 50+
One interesting thing about McLaughlin’s success last season is where it came from. He made all 20 of his field-goal attempts from inside 40 yards and converted 87.5 percent of the time from beyond 50 yards. However, only 3 of his 31 attempts came between 40-49 yards (2-for-3). There would be a risk with McLaughlin, but his usage and success in 2023 suggest he might’ve turned things around.
Will Reichard, 2024 NFL Draft
A program cursed by kicking woes for years finally experienced success thanks to Will Reichard. Not only did he earn All-SEC honors with the Alabama Crimson Tide and forever earn the trust of Nick Saban, but he also proved he can overcome early struggles and rebuild his confidence.
- Will Reichard stats (2023): 22-of-25 on field-goal attempts (88 percent success rate)
As a freshman, Reichard converted just 57.1 percent of his field-goal attempts (4-for-7). He rebounded the next year, converting all 14 field goals during his sophomore season. It was followed by another slight step back, finishing his junior year with only a 78.6 percent conversion rate.
Once more, Reichard proved he could rebound and then maintain his consistency, converting 44-of-51 attempts (86.3 percent) in his final two seasons. The second-team All-American kicker has proven he can kick in critical situations and the NCAA all-time points leader (539) is widely viewed as one of the best kickers in the 2024 NFL Draft.
