Blake Grupe’s debut with the Los Angeles Rams last only a single kick.
He injured his knee defending an early return and was quickly ruled out for the game. Grupe was seen on crutches following the game, suggesting that he won’t be available for some time.
Following last week’s kicker struggles, I posted a shortlist of kickers the Rams should target if they indeed moved on from Harrison Mevis. They did, and signed Grupe in replacement.
But now it’s time to dust that list off again. It’ll be shorter and includes less quality options this time around. The Rams have done it to themselves.
Priority #1: Tanner Brown, Free agent
Maybe the Rams did not initially sign Brown because the team has history with the player. Brown signed with the Rams after going undrafted in 2023. After competing with another undrafted rookie in training camp, LA effectively concluded neither were good enough and opted for veteran Brett Maher instead.
But Brown’s career has progressed nicely away from the Rams. He’s perhaps the best kicker in the United Football League (UFL) for the Louisville Kings.
Brown made all three of his attempts from beyond sixty yards last season, which is a four-point play in the UFL. Overall he converted 25 of 28 opportunities.
It was debatable whether the Rams should have went with Brown or Grupe to start. They made their decision. Now it’s time to go for option B.
Priority #2: Charlie Smyth, Saints
Poaching a player off another team’s practice squad is not a risk-free endeavor. NFL rules require that player stays on the 53-man roster for at least three games. Grupe will likely be placed on injured reserve to create a spot, depending on the severity of his injury. The downside is more performance based, because the Rams would effectively need to roster two kickers if the first guy isn’t good enough.
And Smyth is a risk by himself. He has played in only six regular season games and made 12 of 16 field goal attempts with a long of 57. Smyth converted all 13 extra point tries.
It’s worth nothing that the Saints can keep Smyth on their practice squad with an extra roster spot as part of the league’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program. As a former soccer player from Northern Ireland, Smyth is one of the developing international players that can be retained without counting against traditional practice squad slots.
Priority #3: Jake Moody, Free agent
Moody has failed in prior NFL stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders. He most recently spent time with the Baltimore Ravens but was released from their practice squad in mid-September. Moody made 10 of 11 field goals and 10 of 11 extra points in six games with Washington last year.
No one has seen enough to keep Moody around. This feels like a desperate option for the Rams.
Priority #4: Younghoe Koo, Free agent
The lowest ceiling of any of the aforementioned options. Koo has bounced around the NFL in recent years. He seems on his way out.
Priority #5: Harrison Mevis, Free agent
We broke up with you, but it was a mistake. Take us back.
We can debate whether Mevis should have been blamed for the missed overtime field goal against the Buffalo Bills. It’s speculation whether his kick would have missed, even though it looked off the ideal trajectory before it hit a defender and straightened out.
Mevis isn’t the long-term option for the Rams. His lack of range is paradoxical to the modern prowess of kickers. Even with that in mind, he’s at least a known commodity.