The game of football is filled with many different elements that come together for any team to not only be competitive but to win football games. This is the same from any level of football all the way through the NFL. One of those elements that can play a key role in the outcome of a game is the kicking game. With the heavy importance on kicking, it makes the Top 10 NFL Kickers 2021-22 a key group of players.

At the front of that is the placekicker who holds a wide range of job duties including kicking for kickoffs but more importantly the job of kicking field goals and extra points.

A kick to the right late in the fourth quarter could cost any NFL team the game while impacting their chances to make the playoffs.

However, for the top NFL kickers there is a strong list of candidates that are true game changers including the potential best kicker in the NFL, Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens.

In addition to Tucker, other kickers to know include Evan McPherson, Harrison Butker, and Matt Gay to name a few.

With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 NFL Kickers 2021-2022 Rankings.

Honorable Mention

Chris Boswell

Team(s): Pittsburgh Steelers

2021 Stats: 90 FG%, 93.1 XP%, 56 Long, 135 Points

Landing just outside of the Top 10 NFL Kickers 2021-22 rankings is the Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell.

Boswell made 90 percent of his field goal attempts during the 2021 NFL schedule. On the year the Steelers kicker was 36 of 40 while going 8-9 with kicks over 50 yards and 11-13 on kicks between 40-49 yards.

However, Boswell did have one miss below 39 yards to go along with two missed extra points. In addition, Boswell ranked 25th in all kickers in touchback position on kickoffs of kickers with at least 20 kickoffs with a 46.5 percent mark.

Daniel Carlson

Team(s): Las Vegas Raiders

2021 Stats: 93 FG%, 90.9 XP%, 56 Long, 150 Points

Depending on the metrics you are using to evaluate and rank the best NFL kickers, Daniel Carlson of the Las Vegas Raiders could be much higher on the list.

The Raiders kicker was 40 of 43 on field goals including making 18 of 20 kicks behind 40 yards. However, Carlson missed one of his three kicks inside 29 yards to go along with three missed extra point attempts.

In addition, the Raiders kicker posted one kick out of bounds, one kick allowed for a touchdown and just 60.9 percent of his kicks went for touchbacks.

Top 10 NFL Kickers

10. Graham Gano

Team(s): New York Giants

2021 Stats: 87.9 FG%, 100 XP%, 55 Long, 104 Points

When you have a deep kicking leg, it is easy to see misses next to your name when you are a field goal kicker.

That is the case with the veteran Graham Gano who posted an 87.9 percent field goal percentage on 33 total attempts.

However, when you look at the numbers, three of those four kicks came on kicks outside of 50 plus yards while he made seven of those kicks. Gano was one of three kickers asked to attempt double digit field goals of 50 plus yards.

9. Evan McPherson

Team(s): Cincinnati Bengals

2021 Stats: 84.8 FG%, 95.8 XP%, 58 Long, 130 Points

It is always a little scary when a team turns to a rookie kicker to replace a veteran or when the team is in need of a kicker.

However, that is exactly what happened with the Cincinnati Bengals and their 2021 NFL draft pick, Evan McPherson.

The former Florida Gators kicker put together an amazing rookie season making 84.8 percent of his kicks including going 13-13 with kicks under 40 yards, while also making a league high nine kicks of at least 50 yards.

8. Dustin Hopkins

Team(s): Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders

2021 Stats: 88.2 FG%, 90.9 XP%, 50 Long, 130 Points

One of the best all-around kickers in the NFL is the Los Angeles Chargers kicker Dustin Hopkins who nailed 30 of his 34 attempts during the season.

In addition, Hopkins nailed 12 of 13 kicks between 40-49 yards and two of his five kicks over 50 plus yards.

The Chargers kicker also ranked ninth in the NFL in total touchbacks with a 71.8 percent mark on 78 total kick offs during the course of the NFL season.

7. Harrison Butker

Team(s): Kansas City Chiefs

2021 Stats: 89.3 FG%, 95.9 XP%, 56 Long, 122 Points

When you play on one of the best scoring teams in the NFL it could come back to either benefit you as a kicker or hurt.

This is the case with Harrison Butker who was asked only 28 times to kick field goals as the team ranked near the top in touchdowns scored per game.

Butker went 16 of 18 on his kicks while ranking 9th among all kickers with at least 20 field goal attempts posting an 89.3 percent field goal percentage. However, the Chiefs kicker did miss two of his 49 extra point attempts.

6. Zane Gonzalez

Team(s): Carolina Panthers

2021 Stats: 90.9 FG%, 95.7 XP%, 57 Long, 82 Points

Despite the struggles of the Carolina Panthers, Zane Gonzalez was one of the team’s few bright spots during the 2021 NFL schedule.

The former Arizona State Sun Devils kicker ranked 6th in the NFL in field goal percentage posting a 90.9 mark for the year making 20 of his 22 field goal attempts.

Only thing holding him back was the quantity of field goals made, as he may have moved up the rankings list. In addition, Gonzalez made 22 of his 23 total extra point attempts and 13 of his 15 kicks above 40 yards.

5. Nick Folk

Team(s): New England Patriots

2021 Stats: 92.3 FG%, 89.4 XP%, 53 Long, 150 Points

Landing at number five on the Top 10 NFL Kickers 2021-22 rankings is the New England Patriots kicker Nick Folk.

Folk, who has been as consistent as any kicker around the NFL when called upon, continued that success last season.

The Patriots kicker made 36 of his 39 total kicks including making all 31 kicks below 50 yards. While Folk did struggle with his extra points, his strong leg and perfect mark of under 50 yards makes him a dangerous kicker.

4. Jake Elliott

Team(s): Philadelphia Eagles

2021 Stats: 90.9 FG%, 100 XP%, 58 Long, 134 Points

Coming in just ahead of Nick Folk as one of the best kickers in the NFL 2021, is the Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott.

Elliott, who also finished making 90.9 percent of his kickers like Elliott, was more accurate on extra points and on his kickoffs.

Elliott nailed 44 of his 44 extra point attempts on the season while posting a 63.5 percent touchdown percentage mark on kickoffs. Elliott’s three misses on the year all came between 40-49 yards while also making 10 between that distance.

3. Younghoe Koo

Team(s): Atlanta Falcons

2021 Stats: 93.1 FG%, 100 XP%, 54 Long, 111 Points

The four-year veteran of the Atlanta Falcons, Younghoe Koo is as good of a kicker as any around the NFL and he didn’t disappoint last year.

Koo ranked third in the NFL in field goal percentage, nailing 93.1 percent of his kick Overall Koo nailed 27 of his 29 total kicks while going 10 of 12 from past 40 plus yards.

In addition, Koo is one of five kickers to make all of his extra point attempts with at least 15 total extra points (30 for 30).

2. Matt Gay

Team(s): Los Angeles Rams

2021 Stats: 94.1 FG%, 98 XP%, 55 Long, 144 Points

Matt Gay of the Los Angeles Rams made a strong case to land as the best kicker in the NFL after his 2021 performance.

The Rams kicker made clutch kick after clutch kick including making four of his five kicks over 50 yards and 13 of his 15 kicks between 40-49 yards.

In addition, Gay made 48 of his 49 extra point attempts while also posting a 63.7 touchback mark on 102 total kickoffs. 

1. Justin Tucker

Team(s): Baltimore Ravens

2021 Stats: 94.6 FG%, 100 XP%, 66 Long, 137 Points

Landing at number one on the Top 10 NFL Kickers 2021-22 rankings is the Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl and All-Pro kicker (and future Pro Football Hall of Fame Kicker) Justin Tucker.

When asking “who is the best 2021 NFL kicker” or “who is the best 2022 NFL Kicker” or just who is the “greatest NFL kicker of All-Time”, Justin Tucker is in that conversation.

The Ravens kicker led all kickers with a 94.6 field goal percentage mark making 35 of his 37 total kicks. This includes making all six of his kicks over 50 yards and 13 of his 15 kicks between 40-49 yards.

Tucker is as reliable as any kicker in the history of the NFL and it showed as he nailed a game winning and record breaking longest field goal of 66 yards in week 3 against the Detroit Lions.

How would you rank these Place Kickers going into the 2022-2023 NFL season? Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings.

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