According to Michigan Wolverines reporter Anthony Broome, the Detroit Lions will sign Michigan kicker James Turner as an undrafted free agent.
Over the weekend, three kickers were selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft: Alabama’s Will Reichard (Vikings), Stanford’s Joshua Karty (Rams), and Arkansas’ Cam Little (Jaguars). The Lions passed up the opportunity to add kicker competition in the draft, instead identifying Turner in the undrafted free agent market.
Turner has four years of collegiate experience as a kicker. He spent the first three years of his college career with Louisville. He had two successful seasons in between a tough one. Take a peek.
- 2020: 40-of-40 on extra points (100%), 13-of-15 on field goals (86.7%), Long: 50
- 2021: 46-of-48 on extra points (95.8), 14-of-22 on field goals (63.6%), Long: 46
- 2022: 38-of-39 on extra points (97.4), 20-of-22 on field goals (90.9%), Long: 48
In that 2022 season, Turner set the Louisville program record for field goal percentage, while tying for most field goals made in a season.
In 2023, Turner entered the transfer portal and helped the Wolverines win a national championship. He converted 65-of-66 extra points, along with 18-of-21 (85.7%) on field goals, with a long of 50 yards—which he accomplished on three different occasions. In the national title game, Turner was a perfect 6-for-6 on kicks (two field goals, four extra points).
In short, Turner has been a reliable kicker from short and moderate distances, but with a college long of just 50 yards, he may not solve the Lions’ current issue of having no reliable long-distance kicker.
Turner will come in and compete with incumbent kicker Michael Badgley. Last year, Badgley initially lost out on the kicker competition before returning to the practice squad, winning the job back, and going 4-of-4 in the regular season and 3-for-3 on field goals in the postseason.
In addition to Turner, the Lions have expressed interest in Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates, who has gained the eye of NFL teams after opening the season perfect on field goals, including a pair of 60-yarders. Bates cannot join with a team until the UFL season ends in June.
