The Atlanta Falcons Cut Kicker Nick Folk

After returning from Madrid, Spain, and deciding to trade defensive back Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick, the Atlanta Falcons are continuing to make changes. They have decided to cut 42-year-old kicker Nick Folk.

Folk was supposed to bring stability to new head coach Kevin Stefanski‘s special teams unit after the Falcons suffered years of instability at that position.

At the start of the season, it looked like the Falcons would enjoy that stability from Folk, as he made the field goals and extra points he was given. However, it seems the farther the ball is from the goalposts, the harder it has been for Folk to execute this season, with a field goal percentage of 72.2%.

When you look at attempts versus makes, the numbers tell the story. Folk has struggled this season to kick from distance. Within 29 yards, he’s a perfect 2-for-2. Add ten more yards, and he drops to 85.7%, making six of seven. Add another ten yards, his percentage drops to 80%. The trend continues into the 50 to 59 yard range, where he is only one for four this season, making only a quarter of his attempts.

A lot of Folks’ kicks have been wide right this season, to the point where the team and fans alike don’t even have hope watching it leave his foot, as the trajectory is already negative.

It seems the missed 38-yard field goal in Madrid was the Falcons’ last straw. Not only could the Falcons have used those three points to try to keep pace with the Cincinnati Bengals, but that miss also snapped a streak of 107 consecutive successful field goals within the 40-yard range for Folk.

Ending a streak has personal implications, but the circumstances around the snapped streak were what concerned the Falcons. If your field goal kicker can’t make field goals within the 40-yard range, do you have a kicker in the NFL?

The Falcons’ answer was no, as they decided to move on from a kicker who is clearly in decline.

Atlanta has moved on, signing 26-year-old kicker Jake Moody from the Baltimore Ravens‘ practice squad and placing him on the active roster. Moody most recently appeared for the Ravens against Jacksonville, converting a 53-yard field goal. He should be available to kick immediately against the Kansas City Chiefs when they come into town.