B/R NFL 1000: Top 32 Kickers

Editor's note: This is the 19th installment in Bleacher Report's NFL 1000 for the 2013 season. This signature series runs through April 24, with NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller ranking the best players at every position. You can read more about the series in this introductory article. See the NFL 1000 page for more rankings. 

What does it take to be the best kicker in the NFL?

That’s what the NFL 1000 aims to identify. Throw out the narratives and dig into the film. Then we’ll see who is the best. Who was the most accurate? Who showed the best power?

The B/R 1000 metric is based on scouting each player and grading the key criteria for each position. The criteria are weighted according to importance on a 100-point scale.

Neither potential nor career accomplishments are taken into consideration.

Kickers are judged on power (50 points) and accuracy (50), plus all of the technique, athletic ability and football intelligence needed to play the position.

In the case of ties, our team asked, "Which player would I rather have on my team?" and set the rankings accordingly.

Subjective? Yes. But ties are no fun.

A team of experienced evaluators and I scouted each player with these key criteria in mind. The following scouting reports and grades are the work of months of film study from our team. 

32. Randy Bullock, Houston Texans

Darron Cummings

Kick Accuracy 

30/50

With nine misses in 35 attempts, Randy Bullock (5’9”, 206 lbs, one season) was very unreliable in his first healthy year as an NFL kicker. Some of his misses were shanked well away from the goal post, and his misses included potential game-winning and game-tying field-goal attempts. To his credit, he improved down the stretch, making all 12 of his kick attempts in Houston’s last seven games. 

Kick Power

40/50

Bullock’s struggles to drive through his kicks on deeper field-goal attempts were a reason why his success rate was so poor. All nine of his 2013 misses came from at least 40 yards. 

Total

70/100

Bullock’s poor play was one of many reasons for the Houston Texans being the NFL’s worst team in 2013. Despite his improvement down the stretch, the Texans should bring in another kicker this offseason who can challenge Bullock for his job.

31. Rian Lindell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

33/50

Previously one of the NFL’s most reliable place-kickers, the accuracy of Rian Lindell (6’3”, 227 lbs, 14 seasons) took a step back in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He missed six field goals—his most missed since 2008. His misses included two outside the uprights from within 40 yards and a 47-yard late-fourth-quarter whiff that led to a Week 2 victory by the New Orleans Saints.

Kick Power

40/50

Lindell has never been known to have a strong leg, and it’s not getting any more powerful at 37 years old. After 13 seasons of never recording more than 12 touchbacks in a season, Lindell was not asked to handle kickoff duties for the Buccaneers in 2013.

Total

73/100

After his release from the Buffalo Bills last offseason, Lindell got a chance to keep his career alive for another season when Tampa Bay tabbed him as a replacement for injured kicker Connor Barth. The Buccaneers are expected to go back to Barth in 2014, however, and Lindell’s career is likely over after a disappointing year.

30. Garrett Hartley, New Orleans Saints

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

32/50

Garrett Hartley (5’8”, 195 lbs, five seasons) is the only kicker who has ever made three field goals from 40 or more yards in a single Super Bowl. He also once held the record for most consecutive field goals made to start a career, but you never would have guessed that by watching his play in 2013. Hartley was wildly unreliable, with eight misses in just 30 attempts.

Kick Power

42/50

Hartley drilled a 55-yard kick on his only field-goal attempt from beyond 50 yards, but he’s not known for making deep kicks despite playing his home games in the indoor confines of the Superdome. The Saints did not use him on kickoffs in 2013.

Total

74/100

When Hartley missed a 26-yard field goal and had a 36-yard field goal blocked in a Week 15 loss to the St. Louis Rams, it was the final straw that led New Orleans to release him. After a 2013 season that was disastrous on the whole, Hartley might be hard-pressed to land another NFL kicking job.

29. Kai Forbath, Washington Redskins

Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

40/50

In part due to missing three games but also because of four missed kicks, Kai Forbath (5’11”, 197 lbs, two seasons) converted just 18 field goals in 2013. Despite a shaky start that included two blocked kicks by the San Diego Chargers in Week 9, he finished strong by converting his final 14 attempts.

Kick Power

38/50

Forbath has one of the weakest legs among NFL kickers, and his 2013 statistics were evidence of that. His 61.6-yard average kickoff distance was the worst in the NFL, and he recorded just 14 touchbacks on 57 kickoffs. A 50-yard field goal was his longest conversion.

Total

78/100

Set back by a groin injury, Forbath’s field-goal accuracy took a hit. The Washington Redskins could seek competition for Forbath, especially for kickoffs, where his lack of power is a detriment.

28. Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders

Al Bello/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

33/50

With 21 makes and nine misses—including two from within 40 yards—Sebastian Janikowski (6’1”, 258 lbs, 14 seasons) had the NFL’s worst field-goal percentage in 2013. 

Kick Power

45/50

Known for being one of the most powerful kickers in the NFL, Janikowski was surprisingly ineffective on deep kicks. He made just three of seven field-goal attempts from 50 or more yards.

Total

78/100

After standing out as one of the NFL’s best kickers in 2012, Janikowski’s performance dropped off starkly. That probably shouldn’t come as a big surprise, as he is 36 years old, but the Raiders will be hoping Janikowski, a 2011 All-Pro with four years left on his contract, bounces back in 2014.

27. Alex Henery, Philadelphia Eagles

Alex Trautwig/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

40/50

Alex Henery (6’1”, 177 lbs, three seasons) missed five of his 28 field-goal attempts, and despite being the NCAA’s all-time leader in field goals made, he has developed a reputation in his NFL career of being somewhat unreliable. Only one of his misses in 2013 came from more than 50 yards.

Kick Power

39/50

A 51-yard field goal in Week 15 was Henery’s only field goal from more than 50 yards. His 64.7-yard average kickoff distance was among the NFL’s lowest, and he was the only kicker to have two kickoff-return touchdowns against him.

Total

79/100

Selected in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft, Henery hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in his first three NFL seasons. The Eagles are expected to bring in competition that could give him a serious push for his job.

26. Mike Nugent, Cincinnati Bengals

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

40/50

Mike Nugent (5’10”, 190 lbs, 10 seasons) made just 18 field goals, the least among kickers who played all 16 of their team’s regular-season games. He also had the least field-goal attempts (22) among full-season kickers, and his four missed kicks led to an 81.8 percent average that tied Kai Forbath for 23rd in the NFL. 

Kick Power

41/50

In Weeks 6 and 7 against the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, Nugent made game-winning field goals of 46 and 54 yards. He wasn’t spectacular on kickoffs, but he recorded 32 touchbacks and made 10 field goals from 40 or more yards.

Total

81/100

Nugent has had an up-and-down career, including an unusually high number of injuries for a kicker, but he’s made some clutch kicks when dialed in. He’s under contract for 2014 with the Cincinnati Bengals.

25. Caleb Sturgis, Miami Dolphins

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

36/50

Caleb Sturgis (5’9”, 190 lbs, one season) made the first 10 field-goal attempts of his career, including two from 50 or more yards, to start his rookie season. But his season quickly went south after he missed a 57-yard potential game-winner against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. 

Kick Power

45/50

Sturgis only made three of his seven field-goal attempts from 50 or more yards, but that wasn’t due to a lack of power. The Dolphins kicker shows impressive range and was effective on kickoffs, drilling more than half of his attempts (38-of-74) into the end zone for touchbacks.

Total

81/100

Being streaky doesn’t lead to a long-lasting career as an NFL kicker. Sturgis has all the tools to be one of the league’s best kickers, but he must improve his confidence and not let crucial misses get into his head. Confidence can help him gain more control and become more consistently accurate.

24. Rob Bironas, Tennessee Titans

Mark Humphrey

Kick Accuracy 

42/50

One of the NFL’s most consistently accurate kickers in recent seasons, Rob Bironas (6'0", 208 lbs, nine seasons) made 25 of 29 field-goal attempts in 2013. Some of his misses were badly off the mark, but he still was reliably accurate for the most part, missing just one kick inside 40 yards.

Kick Power

40/50

It seemed Bironas’ leg strength started to fade in 2013. He made 52- and 55-yard field goals in the Tennessee Titans’ final two games, but he had a subpar year on kickoffs, recording just 32 touchbacks on 80 kickoffs.

Total

82/100

The Titans decided to move on from Bironas by releasing him in March. At 36 years old, he is firmly on the back end of his career. He won’t be anyone’s first call for a kicker, but he would be a good replacement option for any team that suddenly needs a kicker.

23. Billy Cundiff, Cleveland Browns

Tony Dejak

Kick Accuracy 

40/50

Even with five missed field goals in 2013, Billy Cundiff (6’1”, 212 lbs, 10 seasons) recorded his second-highest full-season field-goal percentage of a career that has been littered with inconsistency. That 80.8 success rate, however, didn’t do much to change perceptions that he is unreliable. 

Kick Power

42/50

When Cundiff’s range was put to the test this past season, he struggled. He made two 51-yard attempts, but his two longest field-goal tries, from 58 and 53 yards, were missed. He was among the league’s best on kickoffs, recording 42 touchbacks on 65 kicks.

Total

82/100

A journeyman who has played for five teams and had a two-year hiatus in the middle of his career, Cundiff will likely face competition as he attempts to win the kicking job for a second season in Cleveland. 

22. Ryan Succop, Kansas City Chiefs

Charlie Riedel

Kick Accuracy 

40/50

Ryan Succop (6’2”, 218 lbs, five seasons), who memorably missed what would have been a 42-yard game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter of Kansas City’s Week 17 overtime loss to the San Diego Chargers, has had six missed kicks in each of his past four seasons.

Kick Power

42/50

Succop struggled on long field-goal attempts, making just one of four opportunities from at least 50 yards. On the other hand, he displayed good leg strength on kickoffs, recording 47 touchbacks and compiling a 69.2-yard average on the season.

Total

82/100

The Mr. Irrelevant of the 2009 NFL draft has played just well enough to remain relevant as the Chiefs kicker. Succop is signed by Kansas City through the 2016 season.

21. Josh Brown, New York Giants

Bill Kostroun

Kick Accuracy 

43/50

After playing just four games in 2012, Josh Brown (6’0”, 202 lbs, 11 seasons) landed a full-season kicking gig with the New York Giants and made 23 of the 26 field goals he attempted. His highlight came in Week 16, when he made a 46-yard game-winning field goal in overtime against the Detroit Lions.

Kick Power

40/50

Brown doesn’t have a powerful leg by NFL standards and made just one field goal beyond 50 yards in 2013. That said, he had a career year on kickoffs by recording touchbacks on precisely half of them (35-of-70).

Total

83/100

A solid 2013 season put Brown’s kicking career back on track and led to the Giants re-signing him to a two-year contract this offseason.

20. Shaun Suisham, Pittsburgh Steelers

Gene J. Puskar

Kick Accuracy 

45/50

With just two total misses on 32 attempts, Shaun Suisham (6’0”, 200 lbs, nine seasons) had the third-best field-goal percentage in the NFL. His accuracy marked the second consecutive season in which he made more than 90 percent of his field-goal attempts. Both of his misses came in Pittsburgh’s Week 8 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

Kick Power

38/50

Suisham has one of the weakest legs among NFL kickers. He did not attempt a field goal from longer than 48 yards. His 62.6-yard average kickoff distance was one of the NFL’s lowest, and he recorded just 24 touchbacks on 86 attempts.

Total

83/100

Since joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010, Suisham has played the best football of his career. He has a very limited range but has great consistency within 50 yards.

19. Jay Feely, Arizona Cardinals

Matt York

Kick Accuracy 

40/50

Jay Feely (5’10”, 208 lbs, 13 seasons) made 30 of his 36 field-goal attempts, but he finished on a sour note when he missed 37- and 43-yard kicks in the Arizona Cardinals’ Week 17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He was also the only kicker in the NFL to miss multiple field goals within 30 yards in 2013.

Kick Power

43/50

Feely made three of his five attempts from 50 yards or more but did not attempt a field goal longer than 52 yards. He had 33 touchbacks on 86 kickoffs.

Total

83/100

At 37 years old, Feely continued to be productive in 2013, but he had some ugly misses as well. He typically has good intermediate accuracy, but he is limited as a long-range kicker.

18. Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts

Darron Cummings

Kick Accuracy 

42/50

Adam Vinatieri (6'0", 208 lbs, 18 seasons) converted 35 of 40 field-goal attempts, displaying consistent accuracy at all levels of the field. Only two NFL kickers made more field goals than Vinatieri in 2013.

Kick Power

42/50

Now 41 years old, Vinatieri’s leg isn’t nearly as strong as it once was, and he hasn’t been used on a kickoff since 2008. Despite that, the Colts kicker showed he could still hit from deep by converting four of six attempts from 50 or more yards. 

Total

84/100

The potential Hall of Famer’s best years are long behind him, but Vinatieri continued to be a reliable field-goal kicker for the Indianapolis Colts in 2013. 

17. Nick Novak, San Diego Chargers

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

43/50

Having made at least 90 percent of his field-goal attempts in the past two seasons, Nick Novak (6'0", 198 lbs, six seasons) has emerged as one of the NFL’s top field-goal kickers. He showed impressive deep accuracy by making all 11 of his attempts from beyond 40 yards. All three of his regular-season misses came within the 30- to 39-yard range, but two of those were blocked.

Kick Power

41/50

Novak made two field goals from 50 yards but none longer. He missed a 53-yard attempt in the San Diego Chargers’ playoff loss to the Denver Broncos. He also struggled on kickoffs, managing just 18 touchbacks on 92 kicks.

Total

84/100

The Chargers don’t get many long kicks from Novak, but his reliability and intermediate accuracy make him a valuable finisher.

16. Matt Bryant, Atlanta Falcons

John Bazemore

Kick Accuracy 

43/50

Matt Bryant (5’9”, 203 lbs, 12 seasons) missed just three field-goal attempts, but all came in the fourth quarters of games where the Atlanta Falcons were trailing by fewer than seven points and would ultimately lose. That said, he has been one of the NFL’s most consistent kickers over the past four years, with a field-goal percentage of 89.6 percent since 2010.

Kick Power

42/50

Even with the benefit of playing 11 of his games indoors, Bryant did not make a kick longer than 53 yards. He has never been used on kickoffs in his tenure with the Falcons.

Total

85/100

Bryant’s accuracy has been among the NFL’s most consistent in recent seasons, but he couldn’t always be counted on in the clutch this past season. The 38-year-old has limited range that is likely to only decrease at this point in his career.

15. Robbie Gould, Chicago Bears

Nam Y. Huh

Kick Accuracy 

43/50

With an all-time success rate of 86 percent, Robbie Gould (6’0”, 185 lbs, nine seasons) has the best career field-goal percentage among all active NFL kickers. He continued to be among the most accurate in 2013 with just three misses in 29 attempts. 

Kick Power

44/50

Gould made three of four field-goal attempts from 50 yards or more, with his only miss coming on a 66-yard kick that would have broken the NFL regular-season record. Gould’s long kick of 58 yards was aided by wind at his back, but it was the third-longest field goal made this past season. His 61.7-yard average kickoff distance was one of the league’s lowest, but that number was affected by the Bears attempting four onside kicks.

Total

87/100

Reliable throughout his NFL career, Gould is an accurate kicker with a strong enough leg to convert field-goal attempts from every level.

14. Josh Scobee, Jacksonville Jaguars

Stephen Morton

Kick Accuracy 

45/50

The only unblocked miss of the 2013 season for Josh Scobee (6’1”, 210 lbs, 10 seasons) was a 60-yard end-of-half desperation attempt. Money from every range in recent seasons, he has emerged as one of the NFL’s most accurate field-goal kickers.

Kick Power

43/50

Scobee made four kicks between 50 to 55 yards. The Jaguars kicker also had 36 touchbacks on 63 kickoffs.

Total

88/100

Scobee has been one of the few sources of consistency and reliability on a Jaguars team that has gone through considerable turnover in recent seasons.

13. David Akers, Detroit Lions

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

40/50

David Akers (5’10”, 200 lbs, 16 seasons) didn’t have his most impressive season in terms of accuracy, but he was solid. He hit on 19 of 24 kicks, which was good for 79 percent, but he showed his best accuracy on deep kicks of more than 50 yards. His inconsistency is a worry, though.

Kick Power

48/50

Akers managed to nail all three of his attempts of more than 50 yards, and his long of 53 would have been good from 63. What keeps his score down is a failure to connect on attempts from 40-plus yards (just 4-of-7 there).

Total

88/100

Akers, who is a free agent, is a savvy veteran, but his past few seasons have all shown inconsistencies. The 2013 campaign was no different.

12. Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

42/50

Mason Crosby (6’1”, 207 lbs, seven seasons) rebounded well from an up-and-down 2012 season to regain his status as a top-10 kicker. After connecting on 33 of 37 attempts, he showed his consistency and range by making every kick attempted inside of 39 yards.

Kick Power

46/50

With a long of 57 yards, Crosby showed why he was such a highly regarded kicker coming out of Colorado seven years ago. He has top-tier range and isn’t thrown off by the elements. Of his four misses, all came in cold-weather cities (Baltimore and Green Bay).

Total

88/100

Crosby has the misfortune of kicking outdoors in some of the league’s worst conditions, but after a rocky 2012 season, he remains one of the best in the business.

11. Graham Gano, Carolina Panthers

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

41/50

Inconsistent accuracy threatened to knock Graham Gano (6’2”, 200 lbs, five seasons) out of the NFL in previous seasons, but he was solid in 2013, making all but three of his 27 field-goal attempts. He had one kick blocked. The other two misses came in the 40- to 49-yard range.

Kick Power

48/50

Gano was the only kicker in the NFL to make more than three field goals from 50 yards or deeper without a miss. He tied for the league lead with six 50-plus-yard conversions. He was also exceptional on kickoffs, recording 63 touchbacks on 80 kickoffs and having a league-leading average kickoff distance of 72.0 yards.

Total

89/100

With one of the strongest legs in the league, Gano proved to be a huge asset for the Carolina Panthers, thanks to his long field-goal range. His vast improvement earned him a four-year contract with the Panthers this offseason.

10. Dan Carpenter, Buffalo Bills

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

44/50

Signed less than a week before the start of the regular season, Dan Carpenter (6’2”, 228 lbs, six seasons) exceeded expectations, making a career-high 33 field goals on 36 attempts. Reliable throughout the season for the Bills, he did not miss a kick within 40 yards.

Kick Power

45/50

Carpenter was solid from long range, making four of six field goals from 50 yards or longer, including a 55-yard conversion. He didn’t show as much power down the stretch, when he had to play many of his games in colder weather. He recorded 34 touchbacks on 83 kickoffs. 

Total

89/100

After being cut by three teams last offseason, Carpenter got a chance with the Buffalo Bills when rookie Dustin Hopkins went down with a groin injury. He was so impressive that the Bills signed him to a four-year contract this offseason that might prevent Hopkins, a 2013 sixth-round pick, from getting a chance to play regular-season football in Buffalo. 

9. Phil Dawson, San Francisco 49ers

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

43/50

After hitting on nearly 89 percent of his kicks in 2013, Phil Dawson (5’11”, 200 lbs, 15 seasons) showed that he still has it. Three of his four misses came when attempting kicks beyond 40 yards—and doing that in Candlestick Park requires a crazy amount of control. He did miss three kicks on the road, though, and that affects his score here.

Kick Power

46/50

Dawson is still going strong after 15 seasons, and he has the range to keep things interesting. His long of 56 yards was the fifth longest of the season in NFL, and his total of six attempts of more than 50 yards shows how much the 49ers coaches trust his leg.

Total

89/100

Dawson may be on his last stand, but he’s remained consistent and powerful as he’s aged into a veteran player.

8. Blair Walsh, Minnesota Vikings

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

43/50

After a great rookie season, Blair Walsh (5’10”, 192 lbs, two seasons) came back down to earth a bit in 2013. His accuracy grade was altered by a struggle to hit on kicks beyond 50 yards, where he was just 2-of-5. 

Kick Power

46/50

A long of 54 yards showed the league that Walsh can boot the ball down the field, as did the fact that the Vikings let him attempt five kicks beyond 50 yards. He has the power to hit anything within 55 yards but doesn’t yet show the power to move beyond that.

Total

89/100

Walsh is a top-tier young kicker, and after hitting almost 87 percent of his kicks in 2013, he is once again highly rated at the position.

7. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots

Elsa/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

44/50

Already regarded as one of the NFL’s top kickers, Stephen Gostkowski (6’1”, 215 lbs, eight seasons) had a career year in 2013, converting 38 field goals—tied for the most in the NFL—on 41 attempts.

Kick Power

46/50

Gostkowski showed his range by making five of six field-goal attempts from between 50 to 54 yards. He recorded 65 touchbacks, the second-highest total in the league, on 99 kickoffs.

Total

90/100

He tends to be a target of wrath from New England Patriots fans anytime he misses a field goal, but Gostkowski has been one of the league’s most reliable kickers for years. He exhibits accuracy at all levels and has great range.

6. Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

43/50

A 93 percent kicker in 2013, Dan Bailey (6’0”, 191 lbs, three seasons) remains one of the more consistent at the position in the league. Spending at least eight weeks in a dome helps, but he only missed one kick on the road (in San Diego) all season.

Kick Power

47/50

With a 53-yard long, Bailey showed off his range and power. He was an impressive 6-of-7 on kicks of more than 50 yards and was one of the NFL’s most trusted players at that range. 

Total

90/100

Jerry Jones has his kicker. After his performance in 2013, Bailey could be considered one of Dallas’ most valuable players.

5. Steven Hauschka, Seattle Seahawks

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

47/50

The second-most accurate kicker in football during the 2013 season, Steven Hauschka (6’4”, 210 lbs, six seasons) was on point for the Super Bowl champs. He connected on 94 percent of his attempts, missing just two of his 35 tries.

Kick Power

44/50

A 53-yard field goal showed off Hauschka’s leg. He also hit on his other two attempts from beyond 50 yards and was a solid 14-of-15 beyond 40 yards. That shows you his power and consistency at a deeper range.

Total

91/100

The Seahawks have a good one in Hauschka. He’s incredibly consistent and accurate and has the range to keep the team alive late in games.

4. Nick Folk, New York Jets

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

44/50

A solid, near-92 percent kicker, Nick Folk (6’1”, 222 lbs, seven seasons) was on par all season. Of his three misses, two came in the final two weeks of the season. The weather was wet, cold and windy in New Jersey during Week 17, and rainy weather threw off his footing for his Week 16 game in Miami.

Kick Power

48/50

A perfect 3-of-3 from beyond 50 yards, Folk has the leg to push the ball deep and cut through the wind at MetLife Stadium. He may not have the range of a few others—his long of 54 yards is above-average—but the kicking conditions in which he excelled are some of the worst in the league.

Total

92/100

The Jets got it right when they brought in Folk, and he rewarded them with top-notch kicking. Given the windy, unpredictable conditions in MetLife Stadium, he has to be applauded.

3. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens

Al Bello/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

45/50

Former Texas Longhorn Justin Tucker (6’0”, 180 lbs, two seasons) continues to be one of the NFL’s best kickers. He nailed 38 of his 41 attempts in 2013—good for 92.7 percent—and showed the consistency and range of a top kicker. You would like to see better accuracy on intermediate kicks—he missed two between 30 and 50 yards—but he is still an elite player at the position.

Kick Power

47/50

Tucker’s 61-yard long was the second-longest made field goal of the year. He showed he can boom the long ball, but he was also consistent in hitting on six of seven attempts on kicks of more than 50 yards. His range and consistency are top-notch.

Total

92/100

One of the NFL’s best, Tucker has missed just six kicks in his career. He’s only getting better, too.

2. Greg Zuerlein, St. Louis Rams

Michael Thomas/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

44/50

Greg Zuerlein (6’0”, 196 lbs, two seasons) is most known for his power, but he is accurate as well. He converted nearly 93 percent of his kicks in 2013 and showed consistency by connecting on 26 of 27 attempts inside 50 yards. His other miss came on a 50-plus attempt.

Kick Power

48/50

They don’t call him “Greg the Leg” for nothing. Some may want to discount his power because he kicks indoors, but Zuerlein has impressive range. Controlling that power is still something he’s working on, but his range extends out to 60 yards.

Total

92/100

One of the best young kickers in the game, Zuerlein got better in 2013 as the Rams learned the limits of his range and no longer trotted him out to attempt ridiculously long kicks.

1. Matt Prater, Denver Broncos

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Kick Accuracy 

50/50

Matt Prater (5’10”, 195 lbs, seven seasons) dominated, converting an incredible 96.2 percent of his kicks. He was consistent from every level of the field, showing the balance you want in a field-goal kicker.

Kick Power

42/50

Prater connected on six of seven field-goal attempts of more than 50 yards. The thin mountain air didn’t hurt. His long of 64 yards was also impressive. No one made a longer field goal all season. 

Total

92/100

Prater was the best in the business in 2013. He’s part of a trend we’ve noticed that has seen high-powered offenses feature the best kickers. But Prater has staying power, and he isn’t just racking up grades on extra points.

All statistics from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Players' heights, weights and seasons from NFL.com.