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Factoid

Extra points

Longer PATs allow good kickers more opportunities to shine

The NFL moved extra points back by 13 yards back in 2015, and I really like the change. Previously, PATs were almost meaningless; only a few would be missed all year. Now the success rate tends to hover around 94 percent, with key misses showing up from time to time.

And teams attempt enough extra points that over time, the best kickers tend to bubble to the top. In the last four years, for example, Justin Tucker has hit a league-best 99 percent of his extra points. Matt Bryant is old but accurate; he’s converted 98 percent and is available right now for whatever team wants to sign him.

Three active kickers haven’t been able to convert better than 90 percent of their PATs. Jason Myers, Caleb Sturgis and Mike Nugent. Cut by Jacksonville, Myers had a great season on field goals for the Jets last year but missed 3 extra points.

For all kickers with at least 60 attempts, the numbers for the longer PATs appear below. One name stands out: Connor Barth. On these longer extra points, only four kickers have been more accurate.

Released by the Bears during the 2017 season, Barth is hoping to get back into the league. He’s 32, which is old for most positions but ideal for a kicker – a guy who’s still in his prime but has some experience. He says he’s lost 27 pounds, has been working out hard at the gym and will attempt to impress NFL teams at a kicking camp next month.

I would guess that Barth will sign somewhere, and not just as a camp leg – could be one of the league’s 32 kickers next year.

EXTRA POINTS SINCE 2015
PlayerXPXPAPct
Justin Tucker13113299.2%
Brandon McManus12913198.5%
Matt Bryant15015398.0%
Dan Bailey12713097.7%
Connor Barth737597.3%
Stephen Gostkowski19219897.0%
Wil Lutz14815396.7%
Greg Zuerlein12813396.2%
Harrison Butker939795.9%
Matt Prater13714395.8%
Mason Crosby14715495.5%
Sebastian Janikowski12312995.3%
Dustin Hopkins11812495.2%
Cairo Santos11111794.9%
Andrew Franks747894.9%
Phil Dawson919694.8%
Chris Boswell14215094.7%
Adam Vinatieri14215094.7%
Jake Elliott727793.5%
Ka'imi Fairbairn717693.4%
Ryan Succop12713693.4%
Cody Parkey9510293.1%
Robbie Gould10311192.8%
Randy Bullock10110992.7%
Graham Gano15116392.6%
Nick Novak687491.9%
Stephen Hauschka12313491.8%
Chandler Catanzaro15516991.7%
Josh Lambo11112291.0%
Blair Walsh859490.4%
Kai Forbath829190.1%
Mike Nugent9010090.0%
Caleb Sturgis758588.2%
Jason Myers10612187.6%
Dan Carpenter748587.1%

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index