Yes. At a time in the NFL when kickers could routinely kick 50 yarders and boot kickoffs out of the endzone, he stands above them, let alone light years ahead of the kickers already in the hall. He’s definitely the best kicker I’ve ever seen, nothing off Jason Hanson but I’d be real curious about Praters numbers had he been a lion the whole time. I’d bet it’d even look more ridiculous kicking in the dome all the time and having an offense that sputters out giving him a shot at more long field goals.
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60 of 80 from 50+ yards for his career–75%–simply the best and most consistent from that range.
Even better than Justin Tucker who is 42 of 60 for 70%. However, Tucker is No. 1 all time in FG accuracy with an incredible 90.74% on all FGs
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Yeah, I thought I remembered him kicking one from like 60 yards or something. Maybe it got adjusted down. Or, maybe my memory is weak.
Those stats use Prater’s 7 years up against Hanson’s 21 years, so it’s not an equal comparison, which is why I said “if Prater were here 20 years it could be revisited.” Case in point, using the same criteria, I can say Hanson had more perfect seasons of 50+ yard FG (4v1), and the higher Lions’ top season FGM % with it being 95.65% (Hanson) vs 91.67% (Prater). Also, the 40+ yard stat is double dipping the 50+ yard stat; Hanson was better from 0-39 yards and 40-49 yards. Those numbers support Hanson being the “best.” Prater kills it beyond 50 yards without a doubt, and giving him opportunity to take those shots at 50+ yards, which plays right into his wheelhouse, is the perfect storm for his numbers. My argument isn’t trying to take anything away from Prater, he’s a baaadddd man, should be a Hall of Famer and is definitely one of the very best to ever play the position. It comes down to “best in Lions’ history” being a combination of both objective and subjective (Jordan v whomever), because it all depends on the criteria selected. It is one of those thing people have to agree to disagree about, and I’m good with that. Peace, brother.
I’d argue there’s a few kickers from this recent era that deserve to add to the meager ranks of kickers in Canton.
Adam Vinatieri
Justin Tucker
Probably Prater when it’s all said and done.
Even Hanson has a case.
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He did get to kick in Denver alot before coming to the Lions.
For my money Justin Tucker is the best kicker I’ve ever seen. When we started our full roster keeper league I took Tucker in a ridiculously early round like 4th or 5th just to be sure I never had to worry about kicker again.