5 free-agent kickers the Vikings should consider signing in 2019
By Adam Patrick
Dan Bailey
2018 Stats:
- 21/28 FGs (75 percent)
- 30/31 XPs (96.8 percent)
Given the circumstances he was presented with last season, the Vikings bringing back Bailey for 2019 wouldn’t be the worst idea they’ve ever had.
Minnesota signed the veteran kicker in Week 3 and tasked him with turning Mike Zimmer’s frown upside down. Bailey also had to rely on Vikings punter Matt Wile to be his holder in 2018, something Wile had little experience with.
He struggled more on the road than inside U.S. Bank Stadium last year as five of his seven missed field goals came during Minnesota away games. But Bailey converting 9-of-11 field goal attempts inside domed stadiums last season is something that could encourage the Vikings to re-sign him this year.
He hasn’t finished a season with a field goal percentage over 85 percent since 2015 and that should certainly be a concern for Minnesota.
Mike Priefer is no longer the Vikings’ special teams coach, so someone else will be in charge of the team’s kicker for 2019. Maybe Bailey would have more success next season with a new guy calling the shots for Minnesota’s special teams?