The Lions didn't have to go too far to find a replacement for Riley Patterson in the kicking game.
Detroit is expected to sign Michigan Panthers standout Jake Bates, per KPCR 2's Aaron Wilson.
Bates, one of the UFL's best talents, has been considered the best kicker outside of the NFL's grasp for the past two seasons, earning a reputation for his harrowing leg and inch-perfect precision. He just put the finishing touches on a campaign in which he sank 17-of-22 efforts, three of which came from 60 yards or further.
The Arkansas product has enjoyed a long and sordid journey to the NFL, first playing college soccer at Central Arkansas before transferring to Texas State to become a kickoff specialist. He then joined the Razorbacks, emerging as one of the nation's finest kickers in 2022. Now he'll get his chance to make a dent at the NFL level.
Here's why the Lions did it.
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Why did the Lions sign Jake Bates?
Rumors of Bates' arrival in the Motor City swirled long before Detroit put pen to paper. Part of that was because of Bates' glimmering talent — he's earned plaudits for his willingness to catapult efforts at distances upwards of 60 yards.
The Lions also had a vacancy at the position after Patterson — the team's starting kicker for much of the 2023 campaign — was waived following a dry spell in which he missed two extra points in three games. He was displaced by Michael Badgley, who proceeded to sink all seven attempts he fired off in the regular season and the playoffs.
Badgley retains his spot on Detroit's roster heading into 2024. Still, there's plenty of room for competition. And Bates — one of, if not the biggest star in the UFL — figures to be a formidable foe to the Money Badger as the Lions try to figure out their present and future at the position.
Having an abundance of talent at a single position has never been a problem in the NFL. The Lions are hoping that phenomenon will ring true in 2024 as well.
