LA Rams Draft: Plenty of kicker options for Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft

The LA Rams could not develop a promising young kicker from the 2023 rookie class. While they did have second thoughts and re-signed former Oklahoma State kicker Tanner Brown, there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the team's 2024 kicker role. That's not a good look for a team that allowed veteran kicker Matt Gay to sign a lucrative contract with the Indianapolis Colts after the 2022 NFL season.

The team failed to act quickly enough to sign a proven veteran kicker. The most likely option left for the team is to select a new kicker during or after the 2024 NFL Draft, or wait until June 2024 and sign a kicker from the reformed UFL. One UFL kicker is already going viral among NFL fans eager to resolve placekicker problems this year.

But keep in mind that 2023 kicker, Tanner Brown, is with the team. So the Rams are not as desperate as some fans may feel them to be.

Do the Rams need to draft a kicker? Well, the team did draft a punter in the 2023 NFL Draft. But Ethan Evans was clearly quite special, used by the team in punts and on kickoffs. Is there a kicker who stands far and above the rest in the 2024 NFL Draft?

I can't answer that for you. I will merely have some options for kickers up for you in a handy data table. Once that is done, we can discuss some pros and cons for each prospect. Statistics shown are courtesy of bnbfootball.com:

(hint: To scroll to the right, just click and hold the bar at the bottom of the data table)

Joshua Karty, K, Stanford is a 6-foot-2 207-pound kicker who has a slight edge over other kickers in this draft class. He has shown remarkable progress and developmental after a pedestrian 2021 college season. His overall accuracy over the past two seasons exceeds 90 percent. He even has the wildcard variable of successfully executing onside kicks. His leg puts a lot of air under the football, allowing him to hit 50+ yarders without resorting to line drive kicks.

Cam Little, K, Arkansas is a 6-foot-1 172-pound kicker who has leg strength and accuracy, but whose accuracy from 40-49 yards has continued to be his kryptonite. He has the ability and mindset to hit game winners, even those from lengthy distances. He fits the profile of a future NFL kicker, he simply needs to clean up those 40-49 yard misses.

Harrison Mevis, K, Missouri is a 6-foot-0 241-pound kicker who was red hot in 2021, but who has since cooled off a bit. He is still impressive, kicking two game-winners in 2023, including a monster field goal from 61 yards. Despite unquestioned leg strength, his accuracy is still a work in process.

Will Reichard, K, Alabama is a 6-foot-1 187-pound kicker prospect who has solid accuracy under 40 yards, 95 percent accuracy from that range in four seasons with Alabama. His accuracy at 50+ yards has been better than 70 percent. He has all the raw traits of a future NFL-caliber kicker.x

Griffin Kell, K, TCU is a 6-foot-0 195-pound kicker who has solid accuracy under 40 yards, but will need to build leg strength and accuracy to attract NFL interest. Overall, he is likely to be viewed as a developmental kicker who could land on a practice squad. But his strength and accuracy does nothing to inspire me now.

Braydon Narveson, K, N.C. State is a 6-foot-0 210-pound kicker who transferred to compete for the Wolfpack after Christopher Dunn graduated and signed with the Rams after the 2023 NFL Draft. He was a freshman kicker for the Iowa State Cyclones before transferring to Western Kentucky for three seasons. He gives a nice interview with Draft Network's Justin Melo here. While not the strongest candidate, he does have a solid NFL-ready mindset.

If none of these kickers excite you, keep in mind that the current UFL kicker sensation Jake Bates was a former Arkansa kicker who could not win the starting job from 2024 NFL Draft prospect Cam Little. Players, particularly kickers, can develop quickly and become excellent NFL kickers over time.

Thanks for reading.