The Detroit Lions made an interesting move recently by signing elite UFL kicker Jake Bates to a two-year deal worth $1.98 million.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Bates gets a $150,000 guaranteed and a $100,000 signing bonus.
After the season that Bates had in the UFL and with Detroit’s kicking struggles throughout last season, this was a big move that needed to be made.
Lions officially signed standout UFL kicker Jake Bates to a two-year, $1.98 million deal that includes $150,000 guaranteed and a $100,000 signing bonus.
Deal was negotiated and confirmed by agent
Marty Magid.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 18, 2024
Last season, the Lions had perhaps their best season in franchise history.
They went 12-5 and won the NFC North for the first time.
Additionally, they won two playoff games and came to within a fourth quarter of making it to that coveted Super Bowl.
One of the only few things that was not consistent for head coach Dan Campbell was the kicking game.
They used multiple kickers last year, including veterans Riley Patterson and Michael Badgley.
But after seeing what Bates did in the UFL, the Lions have possibly found a solution to that issue.
While playing for the Michigan Panthers, Bates went 17 of 22 and made three fields that were at least 60 yards away.
Most notably, his 64-yard game-winner against the St, Louis Battlehawks in the opening week of the season was the second-longest professional kick in the history of Ford Field behind Justin Tucker’s wild 66-yard kick that he made back in 2021 to beat the Lions.
Bates did enough to give himself an opportunity in the NFL.
The former Arkansas kicker and Houston Texans practice squad player is now on a winning team that has everything out in front of itself in 2024.
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