NFL Player News
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Joshua Karty K | ARI
Cardinals' Joshua Karty: Re-ups with Cardinals
Karty signed his one-year ERFA tender offer with Arizona on Tuesday.
Karty will return to the Cardinals after the team poached him off the Rams' practice squad prior to Week 17 of last season. He suited up for eight regular-season games with Los Angeles in 2025 but struggled in that span, converting just 10 of 15 field-goal tries and 23 of 26 PATs. He'll provide Arizona with depth behind Chad Ryland at the kicker position this offseason.
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Andre Szmyt K | CLE
Browns' Andre Szmyt: Coming back to Cleveland
Szmyt signed his exclusive-rights free-agent tender with the Browns on Monday.
Szmyt had a successful first NFL campaign last season, converting 24 of 27 field-goal attempts (including 5-for-6 from 50-plus yards) and 25 of 26 extra-point tries. He didn't miss a field goal following the Browns' Week 9 bye, going 14-for-14 over the team's final nine games. Szmyt will head into training camp as Cleveland's clear primary kicker.
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Graham Gano K | NYG
Graham Gano: Cut with failed physical
The Giants released Gano (neck) with a failed physical designation Monday, Patricia Traina of SI.com reports.
Gano ended last season on IR due to a neck injury, and the issue appears to still be a concern. With his release. Gano's time with the Giants will come to an end after six seasons. He's been hampered by injuries over the past three campaigns, playing in only 23 of a possible 51 regular-season games during that span. Gano is approaching his 39th birthday, and it's unclear what his next step will be.
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Graham Gano K | NYG
Graham Gano: Set to depart New York
Gano (neck) is set to be released by the Giants, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.
Gano will hit the open market after spending the last six seasons with the Giants. The kicker was limited to just six contests in 2025 as he battled groin and neck injuries, the latter of which required him to be placed on season-ending injured reserve in November. The transaction will save New York $4.5 million in cap space, per Dan Duggan of The Athletic, and the team already signed Jason Sanders to a one-year deal March 10, likely making him the team's starting kicker in 2026. Gano now will look to prove his health and latch on with a new squad this offseason.
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Jake Bates K | DET
Lions' Jake Bates: Officially re-signs with Lions
Detroit re-signed Bates on Wednesday.
Bates has either inked an new contract with the Lions or officially signed the exclusive rights free-agent tender extended to him by the team in early March. In any case, he's positioned to stick with Detroit for the 2026 campaign. Through two seasons in the NFL, Bates has converted 53 of 63 field-goal attempts (84.1 percent) and 118 of 123 extra-point tries (95.9 percent).
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Jake Elliott K | PHI
Eagles' Jake Elliott: Reworks deal with Philadelphia
Elliott agreed Thursday to rework his contract with the Eagles, accepting a $1 million pay cut while receiving $5 million guaranteed for 2026, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
The Eagles will save $243,000 in cap space with the maneuver, while the guaranteed money virtually assures that Elliott will remain the team's kicker in 2026 following a rough 2025 campaign. After converting 20 of 27 field-goal attempts for a career-worst 74.1 percent rate during the Eagles' 17 regular-season games, Elliott then had a costly missed extra point in Philadelphia's narrow loss to San Francisco in the wild-card round. The 31-year-old still remains under contract through 2028, but the Eagles would likely have more flexibility to move on from him next offseason if he's unable to bounce back in 2026.
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Riley Patterson K | MIA
Dolphins' Riley Patterson: Re-signs with Miami
The Dolphins re-signed Patterson on Thursday.
Patterson's return to Miami makes sense after he started all 17 regular-season games for the team last year, converting an impressive 27 of his 29 field-goal tries and all but one of his 35 PATs. The success Patterson demonstrated makes him the favorite to open 2026 as the Dolphins' starter, and prompted the team to move on from longtime kicker Jason Sanders (now with the Giants) to begin the offseason. Patterson will have competition for the No. 1 gig, though, in the form of new signee Zane Gonzalez.
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Joey Slye K | TEN
Titans' Joey Slye: Staying in Tennessee
Slye is re-signing with Tennessee on a one-year contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Last year, Slye made 28 of 35 field-goal attempts (80 percent), including nine of 14 from 50-plus yards, but with a lack of extra-point attempts (27) mostly keeping him off the fantasy radar. That's largely been the story of Slye's career: providing a strong leg for subpar teams. It doesn't help that he's never been great in terms of accuracy, with an 81.4 percent career conversion rate on field goals. The Titans may bring in competition later this offseason.
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Jason Sanders K | NYG
Giants' Jason Sanders: Joining G-Men
Sanders is signing a one-year deal with the Giants, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Sanders was Miami's kicker from 2018 to 2024, before missing the entire 2025 campaign with a hip injury. He returned to practice at the very end of the season, which suggests he should be back at full health a few months later. Sanders had a career year in 2024, converting 37 of 41 field-goal attempts for the Dolphins. His fantasy value in 2026 will depend on locking down the starting job and earning John Harbaugh's trust on long attempts.
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Ka'imi Fairbairn K | HOU
Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Extended by Houston
Fairbairn and the Texans have agreed on a two-year deal, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The contract is a two-year, $13 million extension, which makes Fairbairn the highest-paid kicker in the NFL. The 32-year-old made NFL history during the 2025 season by tying David Akers' 2011 record for most field goals in a single season with 44. This extension will provide key continuity on special teams for the Texans as they chase a fourth consecutive playoff berth in the 2026 season.