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Texans Sign Ka'imi Fairbairn to Two-Year Deal
The Houston Texans are signing kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn to a two-year, $13 million deal on Tuesday, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Fairbairn still had a year left on the three-year, $15.9 million contract he signed with the Texans in March of 2024, but the Texans will extend one of the best kickers in the NFL for another couple of seasons. The 32-year-old veteran led the NFL in both field-goal makes (44) and attempts (48) in 15 regular-season games in 2025, also making all 28 of his extra-point opportunities. He went 9-for-13 on kicks from 50-plus yards out. Fairbairn was second behind only the Seahawks' Jason Myers in overall fantasy points among kickers last year. He has an 87.6% success rate in his career on 291 field-goal attempts over his nine years in the league. Locked in with Houston for another couple of years, Fairbairn will be a high-floor fantasy kicker in 2026.
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Bills Revise Tyler Bass' Contract
The Buffalo Bills and kicker Tyler Bass (hip, groin) agreed to a revised contract on Tuesday that includes $1 million guaranteed and a chance to earn up to $3.5 million in 2026, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Bass missed the entire 2025 season due to injury, so a pay cut was inevitable. The 29-year-old made 24 of his 29 field-goal attempts (4-for-4 from 50-plus yards) and went 59-for-64 on his extra points in 17 games during the regular season for Buffalo in 2024. The former sixth-rounder (188th overall) in 2020 out of Georgia Southern has made 84.5% of his 155 field-goal attempts in his five years in the NFL, all with the Bills. He has two years left on his contract and should enter the start of the 2026 season this fall as the team's starting placekicker, which will make him attractive again in most fantasy leagues.
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Raiders Signing Kicker Matt Gay
The Las Vegas Raiders are signing veteran free-agent kicker Matt Gay to an undisclosed deal on Monday evening, his agents told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The move to bring Gay in pretty much seals previous placekicker Daniel Carlson leaving in unrestricted free agency. The 31-year-old Gay was cut by the Washington Commanders last year after going 13-for-19 on his field-goal attempts in 10 games. He was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers and went 4-for-4 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra-point attempts in just two games before Eddy Pineiro returned from injury. The former fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 out of Utah has made 84.3% of his 216 career field-goal attempts, including going 32-for-54 from 50-plus yards in his seven NFL seasons. The Raiders' offense could be much improved in 2026, even with a rookie signal-caller most likely starting most of the games. Still, Gay shouldn't be drafted in 12-team fantasy leagues.
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Falcons Sign Nick Folk to a Two-Year Deal
The Atlanta Falcons have signed kicker Nick Folk to a two-year contract, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Folk spent 2025 with the New York Jets and is now heading to Atlanta for his 20th season in the NFL. He has played for four teams over five years, making appearances with the Patriots, Titans, Jets, and Falcons. He was a rare bright spot for New York last year, going 28-for-29 on field goals and 22-for-22 on extra points. The 41-year-old should benefit from a move to Atlanta, where he'll spend at least half of his games kicking inside a dome. He'll also offer the Falcons a refreshing upgrade at kicker after they trotted out a combination of Parker Romo and Zane Gonzalez in the aftermath of Younghoe Koo's early-season release.
Source: Tom Pelissero
Source: Tom Pelissero
Colts Re-Sign Blake Grupe to One-Year Deal
The Indianapolis Colts re-signed kicker Blake Grupe to a one-year deal worth up to $1.4 million on Sunday, league sources told James Boyd of The Athletic. Grupe was cut by the New Orleans Saints last year after starting the year 18-for-26 on his field-goal tries and making all 15 of his extra-point attempts through 11 games played. The 27-year-old Notre Dame product then latched on with the Colts and kicked for them for five games, going a perfect 11-for-11 on field goals and 10-for-10 on his extra points. The strong finish to the 2025 season led to Grupe getting another shot as Indy's starting placekicker to begin the 2026 campaign this fall. Grupe has made 81.9% of his 105 career field-goal attempts (19-for-27 from 50-plus yards out) over three NFL seasons with the Saints and Colts. Fantasy managers in standard 12-team leagues should have better options at the kicking position this fall.
Source: The Athletic - James Boyd
Source: The Athletic - James Boyd
Eddy Pineiro Agrees to Four-Year Extension
San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro agreed to a long-term extension with the organization on Saturday. They've agreed on a four-year, $17 million deal, which includes $10 million in guaranteed money. Pineiro signed a one-year deal with the 49ers last offseason and turned it into a huge payday for himself. The 30-year-old was elite as he knocked down 28-of-29 field goal attempts with a league-leading 96.6 field goal percentage. The 49ers weren't going to let their best kicker in years walk away into free agency. Pineiro was going to get paid regardless, so the 49ers made sure it wasn't by anyone else. The 49ers hopefully have the kicker position taken care of through the 2029 season.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Cowboys Place Second-Round Tender on Brandon Aubrey
The Dallas Cowboys placed the second-round, $5.76 million tender on free-agent kicker Brandon Aubrey on Saturday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Aubrey can now sign an offer sheet with another team, but the Cowboys will have the right to match any offer he receives. If they don't match an offer from another team, the Cowboys would get a second-round pick in return for Aubrey leaving. ESPN's Todd Archer reported last month that the 30-year-old placekicker is looking for a contract that exceeds the $6.4 million average that Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gets. Aubrey has been a Pro Bowler in each of his three years in the NFL with Dallas and has also been one of the best fantasy options at the position. The Notre Dame alumnus has made 88.2% of his 127 field-goal attempts in three years and was the No. 3 kicker in overall fantasy points in 2025 in an explosive Cowboys offense. He'll be one of the first kickers off the board in fantasy football drafts this fall if he stays in Dallas.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Dolphins Expected to Release Kicker Jason Sanders
The Miami Dolphins are expected to release kicker Jason Sanders (hip) after the two sides could not agree on a new contract, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Sanders will leave the team with a streak of 27 straight made field goals, including going 9-for-9 on his last 50-plus-yard field goals. However, he did not kick at all last year due to a hip injury that he suffered in training camp. The Dolphins drafted the 30-year-old in the seventh round in 2018 out of New Mexico, and he's converted on 84.6% of his 221 field-goal attempts for the team in the last seven seasons. The Dolphins will now likely go with Riley Patterson to begin the 2026 season after he impressed last year in Sanders' place. If fully healthy, Sanders should attract plenty of interest on the open market for teams looking for an upgrade at placekicker.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Commanders Re-Sign Jake Moody to One-Year Deal
The Washington Commanders are re-signing kicker Jake Moody to a one-year deal on Friday, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Moody spent time with the Commanders, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears in 2025 in his third year in the NFL. The 26-year-old former third-round selection by the Niners in 2023 out of Michigan played in six games with Washington, going 10-for-11 on his field-goal tries and 10-for-11 on extra points. Overall, he made 19 of 23 field-goal attempts (2-for-2 from 50-plus yards) and went 15-for-16 on extra points in nine games. Moody will enter the 2026 season as the Commanders' starting placekicker, but fantasy managers should be able to find more consistent options in 12-team leagues. Moody has a career 78% success rate on his 82 field-goal attempts through three seasons in the NFL.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Lions Tender a Contract to Kicker Jake Bates
The Detroit Lions tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker Jake Bates, ensuring that he returns for the 2026 season, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Bates has gotten off to a nice start to his NFL career in two seasons with Detroit, making 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts while making 118 of his 123 extra-point tries in 34 games played. The 27-year-old Arkansas product has led the NFL in extra-point attempts and extra-point makes in each of the last two years while playing in one of the best offenses in the league. In 2025, he went 27-for-34 on field goals (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and 54-for-56 on extra points in 17 games played to finish as the No. 6 fantasy kicker in overall points. The Lions will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026, but they should still have a favorable offense, making Bates a clear top-10 fantasy target at the kicking position.
Source: Detroit Free Press - Dave Birkett
Source: Detroit Free Press - Dave Birkett
Browns Tender a Contract to Andre Szmyt
The Cleveland Browns announced on Wednesday that they tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker Andre Szmyt, among others. In his first year in the NFL, Szmyt made 24 of his 27 field-goal tries and missed just one of his 26 extra-point attempts in 17 games played in Cleveland. The 27-year-old will return to Cleveland for the 2026 season and should be expected to open the regular season as their starting placekicker. Szmyt was dependable for the Browns as a rookie, but he was only the No. 26 kicker in terms of overall fantasy points in a Browns offense that didn't create many scoring opportunities. Szmyt averaged only 5.7 fantasy points per game. He was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 3 in 2025. Szmyt is a solid young kicker, but in 12-team fantasy leagues, you can find better, higher-ceiling options at the position.
Source: ClevelandBrowns.com
Source: ClevelandBrowns.com
Nick Folk Plans to Return for 19th NFL Season
Veteran kicker Nick Folk plans to return in 2026 for a 19th NFL season, and he is expected to be one of the top options on the kicking market at age 41, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Folk is the league's most accurate kicker (96.3%) since 2023, missing just one field goal per year while going 18-for-20 from 50-plus yards and 75-for-77 on his extra-point tries. In his return to the New York Jets last year, Folk made 28 of his 29 field-goal attempts (7-for-8 from 50-plus yards) while making all 22 of his extra points in 16 games. He was money for the Jets, as he's been in the last three years, but he finished as just the No. 21 kicker in overall fantasy points because the Jets' offense was so bad. The former sixth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2007 out of Arizona has aged like fine wine and has made at least five kicks from 50-plus yards in each of the last three years. Folk isn't getting any younger, but he could certainly be a trustworthy fantasy option in 2026 if he lands in a better offense.
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Rams Open to Trading a First-Round Pick?
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead appears to be ready to be aggressive to maximize quarterback Matthew Stafford's window, as he said the team is open to "trading a first-rounder for a proven player," according to Nate Atkins of The Athletic. Snead also revealed that the secondary is a big focus this offseason, with the Rams potentially looking to add an All-Pro defensive back. Trade talks are ongoing for the Rams as they look to get back to the Super Bowl before Stafford, last year's MVP, decides to retire. The Rams had one of the best all-around teams in the NFL last year, but fell short in the NFC Championship to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks. L.A. holds two first-round picks in this year's NFL draft, so look for them to potentially trade it to acquire an impact player that could help them get over the hump.
Source: The Athletic - Nate Atkins
Source: The Athletic - Nate Atkins
Falcons to Play in Spain in 2026
The Atlanta Falcons announced on Tuesday that they are scheduled to play a regular-season game in Madrid, Spain, in 2026. The game against an unnamed opponent will be played at the Bernabeu, the home of Real Madrid, and is part of a multi-year partnership with the city of Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid. It will be part of a record nine international games in the NFL this coming season. Atlanta was the road team against the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin, Germany, last season. This will be the league's second game in Madrid, with the Miami Dolphins playing the Washington Commanders at the Bernabeu last year. It is the sixth Falcons regular-season game internationally and the fifth in Europe. With a new front office and coaching staff in 2026, the Falcons will be looking to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2017.
Source: Atlanta Falcons
Source: Atlanta Falcons
Rams Tender Contracts to Harrison Mevis, Xavier Smith
The Los Angeles Rams announced on Monday that they tendered exclusive-rights free-agent kicker Harrison Mevis and wide receiver Xavier Smith. Neither Mevis nor Smith will be allowed to negotiate with other teams this offseason. Mevis, 23, made his NFL debut last year and was impressive, making 12 of his 13 field-goal attempts (made his lone try from 50-plus yards) and all 39 of his extra-point tries in nine regular-season games. He finished the year ranked as the No. 8 fantasy kicker in terms of fantasy points per game at 8.3. In the playoffs, Mevis was a perfect 15-for-15 on field goals (six) and extra-point tries. The former undrafted kicker out of Missouri should enter the 2026 season as the favorite to be L.A.'s starting kicker, which will make him pretty attractive in fantasy football in one of the league's highest-scoring offenses.
Source: Los Angeles Rams
Source: Los Angeles Rams
