The Colts couldn’t pass on kicker Spencer Shrader’s upside, now they must unlock that full potential.
As GM Chris Ballard said recently, the Indianapolis Colts‘ decision to move on from veteran kicker Matt Gay was more so about the confidence that the team has in Spencer Shrader.
As an undrafted rookie in 2024 who began his NFL career with the Colts before making two other stops last season, Shrader is still an inexperienced player, with only nine career extra point attempts and five career field goal attempts–all of which he has made, but Shrader is yet to have an attempt from 50-plus yards either.
However, what the Colts saw in him last April when they signed him as a UDFA was his upside and potential, and Shrader’s performance with multiple teams in 2024 only further confirmed those feelings.
“Really excited to have him back,” said special teams coordinator Brian Mason. “Think he’s really talented. (He) certainly has a lot of upside, and we want to continue to develop that upside. He certainly has a small sample size for what he’s been able to do in the NFL, but think he has the ability to be a really solid starter if he continues to develop to his potential.”
After being on and off the Colts’ practice squad for the first half of last season, Shrader was signed by the New York Jets and appeared in one game for them. Then, with Kansas City also dealing with an injury at kicker, Shrader was signed by the Chiefs and appeared in two games there.
This ability of his to bounce from team to team and adjust to new snappers and holders on the fly while still continuing to make his kicks was something that both Ballard and Mason spoke very highly of because that is not an easy task, especially for a first-year kicker.
“Did a really nice job being able to start for three different teams last year, which is not easy to do,” said Mason. “Handled that pressure really well, and I think he’s done a really good job so far when you’re in the NFL on and off the field.”
During his college career, Shrader made a modest 68.3% of his career attempts, according to PFF. But along with what he showcased as a rookie, what gives the Colts the confidence that he can be a long-term answer at the kicker position for them is his leg strength and mental makeup, as Mason mentioned.
The stability of having a veteran duo around him at long-snapper and holder should also help facilitate Shrader’s growth.
“We have two vets that are in the room with Luke Rhodes and Rigo Sanchez, and just letting him work with those guys as much as humanly possible over OTAs and training camp to help him take that next step,” added Mason. “But really excited to have him. We think he’s got a lot of upside, got a lot of potential, and can be really successful in the NFL.”
If you look around the NFL, there is certainly risk in relying heavily on an inexperienced kicker. However, the Colts couldn’t pass up the upside that Shrader possesses. Now, the next step is helping him unlock that full potential.