Being an NFL kicker is a thankless job. You're expected to make every field goal that you take, and when you don't, you become a scapegoat. The lengthening of the extra point has made the kicking position even more important than it used to be. So who are the guys you want kicking the field goal when the game is on the line? Let’s find out.
#1: Stephen Gostkowski.
This Patriots kicker seems to lead all kickers in scoring every single year.
It can't hurt to have the support of Tom Brady, but you still have to make the field goals. Gostkowski was the first kicker to score 1000 points in his first 8 seasons, and he is the Patriots all-time leading scorer. He has an excellent field goal percentage of 87.3%, good for 3rd on the career list.
#2: Justin Tucker
Since being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Ravens in 2012, Justin Tucker has been one of the best kickers in the league. His 87.84% accurate ranks second among all kickers in the history of the NFL. When the game is on the line, there's nobody you'd rather have kicking the field goal than Justin Tucker.
Tucker also holds the distinction of being the only kicker in NFL history to hit field goals in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s in the same game.
#3: Dan Bailey
Dan Bailey is the most accurate kicker in the history of the NFL. His 90.57% accuracy rate ranks first among all NFL kickers that have ever played the game. The Cowboys are glad that they have a kicker who is so highly accurate, even if they were awful last season.
#4: Steven Hauschka
Steven Hauschka bounced around the NFL from 2008 until 2011, when he finally stuck with the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are glad to have him, especially because his field goal percentage (86.81%) ranks 4th all-time. It's crucial to have a good kicker in crunch time, and the Seahawks definitely have one.
#5: Adam Vinatieri
This legendary 43 year old kicker is still going strong in the NFL of today. Vinatieri has made the 3rd most field goals in NFL history and has a field goal percentage of 84.1%. But Vinatieri is better known for nailing clutch kicks, including two in the final seconds of Super Bowls. Oh, and don't forget about that field goal he nailed in the snow against the Raiders.
#6: Blair Walsh
Drafted in the 6th round of the 2012 NFL draft, Blair Walsh has stabilized the kicking position for the Vikings. His 85.21% field goal percentage ranks 10th all-time among kickers. Blair Walsh might have missed a 27 yard field goal for the win against the Seahawks last season, but he's still one of the most consistent kickers in the league.
#7: Phil Dawson
This 41 year old has been one of the more consistent kickers in the NFL over the past several years. His field goal percentage (84.46%) ranks in the top 15 all time. Perhaps what is most impressive about Dawson's career is that he made 27 consecutive field goals after joining the 49ers in 2013.
#8: Josh Brown
Josh Brown struggled early on his career, but he has been fantastic with the Giants. Since signing with the Giants in 2013, Josh Brown has made 74 out of 81 field goals, good for 91%. In that time, Brown has also missed just one extra point, impressive considering its longer length.
#9: Robbie Gould
There is no place in the NFL more difficult to kick field goals than Soldier Field.
In his time with the Bears, Gould has been excellent at kicking from grass that is easily torn up. Gould ranks 9th in field goal percentage (85.44%) all time, an impressive feat considering the conditions he always has to kick in at home.
#10: Matt Prater
The kicker who currently holds the NFL record for longest field goal has to be on this list. Matt Prater nailed a 64 yard kick in 2013, surpassing the previous record that had been shared by Jason Elam, Sebastian Janikowski, and David Akers. Prater's field goal percentage (82.59%) ranks 20th all time.