NFL Player News
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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 | MIA
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.
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Zane Gonzalez K | ATL
Dolphins' Zane Gonzalez: Joining Dolphins on one-year deal
Gonzalez has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Miami, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Gonzalez links forces with the Dolphins in advance of his age-31 season, coming off an impressive 2025 campaign in which he converted 19 of 22 field-goal attempts and 17 of 18 point-after tries while logging nine regular-season appearances with the Falcons. Miami released longtime kicker Jason Sanders in early March and faces the risk of losing Riley Patterson, who was tremendous as the team's starter in 2025, as a free agent. Gonzalez provides the Dolphins with a reliable starting option, though the team could still add competition at the position or work to re-sign Patterson.
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Tyler Bass K | BUF
Bills' Tyler Bass: Takes pay cut for 2026
Bass (pelvis) agreed to a contract restructure with the Bills on Tuesday, Sal Maiorana of Democrat and Chronicle reports.
Bass, who missed Buffalo's entire 2025 campaign due to a pelvic injury that required surgery, was set to make $4.9 million during the 2026 season. However, he's since agreed to a contract restructure that saves the Bills roughly $1.92 million in cap space for next year. Bass is set to remain Buffalo's top placekicker for 2026, having converted 84.5 percent of his career field-goal attempts, including 69.6 percent from 50-plus yards, since entering the league in 2020.
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Matt Gay K | SF
Raiders' Matt Gay: Moving to Vegas
Gay is set to sign with the Raiders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Gay began last season with Washington but was cut in mid-November after going 13-for-19 on field-goal tries. He then signed with San Francisco and went a perfect 8-for-8 on field-goal attempts, but he was just holding down the fort in the absence of Eddy Pineiro and was ultimately cut upon Pineiro's return. Gay's signing likely means that Daniel Carlson, who is an unrestricted free agent, won't return to Las Vegas after eight seasons with the franchise.
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Nick Folk K | NYJ
Falcons' Nick Folk: Lands in Atlanta
Folk agreed to terms Monday on a two-year contract with the Falcons, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Folk, who is heading into his age-42 season, converted 28 of 29 field-goal tries and all 16 of his PATs across 16 regular-season appearances with the Jets in 2025, and he remains one of the league's more accurate kickers, having led the position in field-goal accuracy each of the last three years. He will start for Atlanta in 2026, a landing spot that figures to provide increased scoring opportunities compared to what he saw most recently in New York.
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Blake Grupe K | IND
Colts' Blake Grupe: Sticking in Indy
Grupe agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $1.4 million with the Colts on Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Grupe converted all 11 of his field-goal attempts and 10 PAT tries across the Colts' final five regular-season games last year. Indianapolis signed the 27-year-old from its practice squad after moving on from Michael Badgley in December. Grupe opened the season with the Saints but was waived in late November after he hit 18 of 26 field-goal tries over 11 appearances. He now will compete with Spencer Schrader for the Colts' starting kicker job this offseason, per James Boyd of The Athletic.
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Chad Ryland K | ARI
Cardinals' Chad Ryland: Staying in Arizona
Ryland agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Cardinals on Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Ryland was slated to become a restricted free agent but will remain with the Cardinals after he suffered a down year in 2025, when he converted 25 of 33 field-goal attempts and all 36 of his PATs over 17 regular-season games. The 26-year-old hit 28 of his 32 field-goal tries over 13 contests in 2024. Arizona also signed Joshua Karty from the Rams' practice squad in December, and he'll likely compete with Ryland for the starting kicker job heading into the 2026 campaign, according to Darren Urban of the team's official site.