Michigan Panthers UFL Kicker Could Be Destined for the Lions
Now that the 2024 NFL Draft is over, American football fans who miss the sport don’t have much going on. But, they do have the UFL, and in Michigan, the Michigan Panthers. Sure, the UFL doesn’t get nearly the numbers or attention as the NFL, but they certainly have solid players and some devoted fans. Now, Michigan Panthers UFL kicker Jake Bates is making huge waves with stats that are actually better than those in the NFL. He could even be destined for the Lions.
Michigan Panthers UFL Kicker Jake Bates – Could He End Up with the Lions?
Having a great kickers on your NFL team can be a make or break thing. I can’t even begin to list off the countless games I’ve watched where my team loses the game at the end after a botched field goal attempt. What’s more, if the quarterback knows he only has to get to the 50 yard line for possible points on the board, that’s huge. Now, the Michigan Panthers UFL kicker, Jake Bates, is impressing pretty much everyone in the UFL and NFL.
This season in the UFL, Bates has made field goals from the 64, 62, 60, 55 and 52 yard marks, including a game-winning one under pressure on Sunday (May 5). That’s incredible. At this point, it’s safe to say that he’ll be on some NFL team next season. But, even though it’s assumed that several NFL teams, including the Detroit Lions, are already interested in bringing this guy on, nothing is official. That’s because he’s under contract with the UFL, and there’s a rule that NFL teams aren’t allowed to directly talk to or sign a UFL player under contract until after the season. They also can’t talk with that player’s agent. But, the NFL and UFL team are allowed to talk, and Michigan Panthers head coach Mike Nolan has previously said in a video conference (via the Detroit Free Press) that NFL teams have talked to the UFL and are interested in Bates.
Bates seconds that he hasn’t talked to anyone in the NFL yet. When asked about the rumors and if something is in the works, he said (via Fox Sports), “That’s not true. I can’t talk to them. I don’t know where that comes from, but no, I can’t. I guess we’re under contract, we can’t talk to anybody. So, that’ll come in the future, hopefully, but that’s not happening right now.”
If and when the NFL does strike a deal with Bates, many local fans want to see him join the Lions. Michael Badgley has solid numbers, but we all know what happens when Dan Campbell decides to go for it instead of take a field goal in high-pressure situations, so having another fantastic kicker would help if Campbell plays it safer this season. Either way, with the record-breaking NFL Draft over, it’ll be exciting to see where Bates lands.
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