The New York Jets have added some competition at placekicker.
Gang Green claimed Blake Grupe off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts.
Grupe, 27, will turn 28 during the 2026 season. He spent the final five games of the 2025 season with the Colts. During that stretch, he had a 100% field goal conversion rate, going 11-for-11. On his extra point attempts, Grupe went 10-for-10.
Looking at His History
The former Arkansas State and Notre Dame product entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He spent the first two and a half years of his career with the New Orleans Saints.
During his time with the Saints, Grupe had a 79.8% conversion rate, going 75-of-94 on his field goal attempts. During that same stretch, he had a 97.7% conversion rate on his extra point attempts (86-for-88).
ESPN’s Rich Cimini noted, “Grupe in the preseason: 2-for-4 (46 long), 2-for-2 on PATs.”
“Grupe’s FG pct outdoors: 33-for-41 (80.5%) indoors: 52-for-63 (82.5%) Has never attempted a FG or PAT when the temp is 40 or below,” Cimini revealed on X.
The Carousel Continues to Spin for the Jets at Kicker
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic refreshed everyone’s memories on what the Jets have done at the kicker position this offseason:
“The Jets offseason kicking carousel:
- Sign Lenny Krieg in January
- Let Nick Folk walk in free agency in March
- Sign Cade York in March
- Sign Will Ferrin as a UDFA in early May
- Waive Will Ferrin in mid-May
- Sign Younghoe Koo in late-May
- Waive Lenny Krieg in early June
- Sign Jason Sanders and waive Younghoe Koo in early June
- Release Cade York in August
- Claim Blake Grupe off waivers after roster cuts”
Head coach Aaron Glenn said Sanders, the only other Jets kicker on the roster prior to the Grupe claim, remains on the team for now.
“Aaron Glenn said Jason Sanders is still on the roster and referred to it as a ‘competition’ with Blake Grupe. Though said the roster situation is fluid,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic posted.
Sanders “won” the kicking job this offseason, but it was less him winning it and more York losing it. In the preseason finale, the mission was simple for Sanders: just don’t screw it up. He was the only placekicker on the roster for the New York Giants game.
Spoiler alert: Sanders screwed it up.
He shanked an extra point and didn’t have enough leg for a 54-yard field goal attempt. That sounded the alarm bells on 1 Jets Drive. The team responded a few days later by making a move on the waiver wire.
Grupe last season had a long of 60 yards, NFL Insider Ari Meirov posted on X.
“Grupe has a good leg (career-long 60) and decent consistency on 50+ yarders (career 70.4% vs. NFL avg 69.2%). What’s very concerning, though, is that he has the 3rd-most misses from under 50 yards (11) over the last 3 years. He also missed a 36-yarder this preseason,” Michael Nania of Jets X-Factor said.
Jets Awarded Perfect Kicker off Waivers From Colts