Will the Dolphins Bring Back Riley Patterson?

Will the Dolphins Bring Back Riley Patterson?

With the Dolphins releasing kicker Jason Sanders a few days ago, they are in a tricky situation, as they currently do not have a kicker under contract.

Riley Patterson is a free agent and is coming off a sensational season.

Patterson was 27 for 29 on field goals for a whopping 93.1% and 34 for 25 on extra points for 97.1%.

He scored 115 points for the Dolphins last season and was clutch in many big moments, making many big kicks.

And he is hitting the free agent market at just the right time, and with the Dolphins’ salary cap situation, you have to wonder if Patterson has multiple offers out there, if he may get priced out of what Miami is willing to pay.

With a new general manager, head coach, and special teams coach in South Florida, now there are no ties or relationships between the organization and Patterson, which is another factor here.

This could force Miami to look at the open market, and currently, some of the names available are Nick Folk, Zane Gonzalez, Joey Slye, and Matt Prater, to name a few.

Miami could also look to address this position in the draft by either using a 7th-round pick on a kicker, or if they trade back at any time or multiple times in next April’s draft and acquire more picks, they may add another 5th or even acquire a 6th-round pick, which would be a prime spot to draft a kicker.

Then, of course, because many kickers are not usually drafted, they could go the UDFA route and bring in a few to have them compete in training camp.

While the Dolphins have a ton of holes on their defense and offense, especially at quarterback, you cannot ignore special teams.

Especially kicker with the way the sport has evolved and how kickers have become a huge part of the modern game, almost to the point that if you cross mid-field, you are in scoring range with some of these kickers, it feels like.

Patterson was fantastic last season, and it would be a shame to lose both Sanders and him in the same offseason, but the Dolphins may have someone in mind they like or someone at a lower price they may be forced to go with.