The Kansas City Chiefs are lucky to have one of the steadiest kickers in the game. Kicker might not get much attention until things go south, but when you’ve got a reliable one, it’s a massive luxury.
Harrison Butker has been just that for the Chiefs. This offseason, Kansas City showed its appreciation, handing him a four-year, $25.6 million extension. The deal includes nearly $18 million guaranteed and makes him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, with an average annual salary of $6.4 million.
Butker has never made a Pro Bowl or landed on an All-Pro team, but he’s been rock solid since arriving in K.C. Originally a seventh-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2017, Butker has spent his entire career with the Chiefs. Across eight seasons, he’s nailed 88.6 percent of his field goals and 94.4 percent of his extra points.
Sure, he’s had a couple of hiccups—two of his three worst seasons have come since 2022—but Kansas City clearly isn’t sweating it. They’ve made their commitment clear, both financially and in terms of confidence.
Butker missed four games last year, and the Chiefs turned to undrafted free agent Spencer Shrader to help fill the gap.
Shrader performed admirably in limited action, going 5-for-5 on field goals and converting all nine of his extra point attempts while suiting up for three different teams throughout the season, spending time with the Chiefs, New York Jets, and Indianapolis Colts.
Former Chiefs K Spencer Shrader Will Be Cut From Colts Training Camp
Now, Shrader’s trying to win the kicking job in Indianapolis again—but things aren’t going as planned. The Colts cut Matt Gay this offseason, clearing the way for a wide-open competition between Shrader and 2025 undrafted rookie Maddux Trujillo.
Trujillo has struggled out of the gate, but Shrader hasn’t exactly seized the moment either. He missed two field goals in practice on Friday and has looked shaky overall through the first week of camp. Although both of his misses game from 50+ yards, the Colts are looking for more consistency from Shrader.
While Shrader is currently one of only two kickers on the roster, that doesn't guarantee anything. If neither he nor Trujillo proves trustworthy, the Colts could absolutely bring in a veteran or waiver-wire pickup later in camp. The margin for error at kicker is razor-thin—especially on a team looking to rebound.
If Shrader doesn’t turn things around quickly, the once-Chiefs kicker is likely to be on the chopping block before preseason even wraps up.