2009 Free Agents: Kickers and Punters

MISSING

2009 Free Agency: Star rating is out of five. Age listing as of Sept. 1, 2009.

2009 NFL Free Agents – Kickers:

Rob Bironas, Titans. Age: 31.
Re-signed with Titans (4 years)

Arguably the top kicker in the NFL, Rob Bironas is 64-of-72 (88.9%) and 5-of-6 from beyond 50 the past two seasons.
Nick Folk, Cowboys. Age: 24.
I love how kickers aren’t allowed to have a bad streak of games, yet players at other positions are. Folk was 26-of-31 in 2007 and 20-of-22 in 2008. In his career, he’s 5-of-9 from 50-plus. He’s a really good kicker who’s just going through a mental slump.
Jason Hanson, Lions. Age: 39.
Re-signed with Lions (4 years)

Eat your vitamins, kids, and you’ll be as strong at 40 as Jason Hanson is. Hanson hit 21-of-22 attempts in 2008. More amazingly, he was an astonishing 8-of-8 from beyond 50!
Jay Feely, Jets. Age: 33.
Re-signed with Jets (1 year)

Jay Feely hit 24-of-28 kicks in 28, including both of his tries from 50-plus. “See Me, Touch Me” Feely has actually been really sharp since getting shipped out of Atlanta in 2004; the past four years, he’s 103-of-120 (85.8%) and 6-of-9 from beyond 50.
Shayne Graham, Bengals. Age: 31.
Franchised by Bengals

Shayne Graham isn’t great beyond 50 (2-of-6 the past four years), but he’s nailed at least 83 percent of his attempts in each of the past six seasons.
Matt Stover, Ravens. Age: 41.
Signed with Colts

Matt Stover proved against the Titans that he can still be very accurate, clutch and reliable inside 45. His leg strength is gone, but Stover can still be counted on. Just ask the Saints if they want him; New Orleans lost at least two games because of its kickers, robbing the team of a potential playoff berth.
John Carney, Saints. Age: 45.
John Carney was great in the regular season, hitting 35-of-38 attempts, including 6-of-8 from 40-plus. However, he was awful in a playoff loss to the Eagles, missing on two crucial kicks.
Jason Elam, Falcons. Age: 39.
He’s done. Jason Elam has missed four field goals within 40 yards this year.
Mike Nugent, Cardinals. Age: 27.
Mike Nugent was drafted in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft because of his strong leg. Oops. In his career, Nugent is just 3-of-9 from 50-plus.
Steven Hauschka, Ravens. Age: 24. – Signed with Falcons
Matt Bryant, Buccaneers. Age: 34. – Signed with Falcons
Shaun Suisham, Redskins. Age: 27. – Signed with Cowboys
Connor Barth, Dolphins. Age: 23. – Signed with Buccaneers
Taylor Mehlhaff, Saints. Age: 24.
Mike Vanderjagt, None. Age: 39.
Martin Gramatica, Saints. Age: 33.

2009 NFL Free Agents – Punters:

Shane Lechler, Raiders. Age: 33.
Re-signed with Raiders (4 years, $12 million)

Shane Lechler boomed 90 of his punts on a 48.8 average, and still managed to pin 33 of them inside the 20.
Sam Koch (RFA), Ravens. Age: 27.
Re-signed with Ravens (1 year, $1.545 million)

The Ravens should look into extending Sam Koch. He had a 45-yard punting average despite drilling a whopping 34 kicks inside the opposing 20 (most in the NFL).
Hunter Smith, Colts. Age: 32.
Signed with Redskins

Hunter “The Punter” Smith remarkably had just two punts go for touchbacks this season. That’s the least amount of any punter with at least 25 attempts. Smith had a 44.2 average and hit 23-of-53 tries inside the 20. That’s a pretty impressive ratio.
Chris Hanson, Patriots. Age: 32.
Re-signed with Patriots

Chris Hanson had a pretty mediocre 43.7-yard punting average, but that’s because he managed to hit 19 of 49 kicks inside the 20. Did a great job of rebounding after Jack Del Rio tried to chop his head off with an ax. Umm… maybe I’m getting this story confused with something else, I don’t know.
Michael Koenen, Falcons. Age: 27. – Re-signed with Falcons (1 year, $2.48 million)
Craig Hentrich, Titans. Age: 38. Re-signed with Titans
Ben Graham, Cardinals. Age: 35. – Re-signed with Cardinals (2 years)
Durant Brooks, Packers. Age: 24.
Ryan Plackemeier, Bengals. Age: 25.
Tom Malone, Patriots. Age: 25.
Dirk Johnson, Steelers. Age: 34. – Signed with Buccaneers
Mike Dragosavich, Colts. Age: 24.
Kyle Larson, Bengals. Age: 28.
Mitch Berger, Steelers. Age: 37. – Signed with Broncos