3 kickers the Rams could sign today to compete for the starting job

Well, here we go again: deja vu. Los Angeles Rams fans should already feel a premonition of imminent upheaval on special teams. We had a similar feeling of dread early last season.

If you recall, that foreshadowed a complete midseason overhaul, including a change of special teams coordinators.

New Rams coordinator Bubba Ventrone knows the history and is scrambling to avoid a similar fate. He's already pulled return specialist Xavier Smith, outright releasing him after citing inconsistent decisions and performance.

Unfortunately, that's not the only area demanding attention.

Ex-UFL kicker Harrison Mevis, surprisingly effective in 2025, has struggled. He has made only five of seven field goal attempts, and is only three of five from 40+ yards. He even made a huge gaffe on a kickoff in Week 4, sending the ball out of bounds. That set up the Philadelphia Eagles at the 40-yard line late in the game, right after the Rams had pulled within three.

Yikes.

3 kicker contestants Rams should consider sooner rather than later

Here are some options to consider aside from Australian kicker Jack Bouwmeester, who occupies the Rams' international player practice-squad spot but lacks the experience to challenge Mevis:

1. Former UFLer Tucker McCann

Originally a Tennessee Titans prospect in 2021, McCann transitioned to the UFL and made a 58-yarder for the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2026. He was eventually released from the Battlehawks after suffering an injury.

He made 10 of 11 field goals in his lone UFL season, including successfully kicking five of six field goals from 40+ yards.

2. Saints Practice-squader Charlie Smyth

The New Orleans Saints are carrying Smyth on the practice squad. While he only made 75 percent of his field goals in 2025, he made every extra point he attempted. The challenge is that pillaging another team's practice squad mandates placing any signed player on the active roster.

Smyth made seven of eleven field goals from a distance of 40+ yards in 2025. He would be cheap and experienced. But he will require an open roster spot.

3. Free agent Joshua Karty

That's right. Former Rams kicker Joshua Karty failed to make the Arizona Cardinals' roster and was released in June. Now Karty is a free agent. He knows the coaching staff and SoFi Stadium, and could sign with the practice squad and begin competing with Mevis for the kicking job again.

Karty was solid in his rookie season. He found himself in the unique situation of specializing in field goals. At the time, punter Ethan Evans was also tasked with kickoffs.

Karty's struggles began in 2024. Mevis replaced him last year mid-season. Perhaps Karty deserves a chance to repay the favor. Los Angeles wins regardless of who emerges from the impromptu round-two kicking competition.

As the Rams experienced first-hand last year, signing a kicker to the practice squad has multiple benefits. The first and most obvious is that it introduces competition without a reciprocal cost on the 53-man roster. But it also sends a clear message: Step up or step away.

While the pickings are slim at the kicker position, general manager Les Snead could find a keeper among this list. The only remaining question is when he will pull the trigger.

As always, thanks for reading.

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