Billy Cundiff

Will be the Browns starting kicker in 2013.

Cundiff missed a game-tying 32-yarder with 15 seconds remaining in the AFC Championship game, concluding a disappointing season for the kicker. Although he scored more points (122) in 2011 than during his Pro Bowl season a year earlier, Cundiff missed nine of 37 field-goal attempts, keeping him outside the top 10 in scoring. Cundiff’s career accuracy rate of 76.7 percent makes him a bit of a liability, but an offense ranking in the lower half of the NFL in red-zone touchdown efficiency the last three years should help Cundiff finish among the league leaders in field-goal attempts.

Cundiff resurrected his NFL career last season with a career-high 117 points. He converted 26-of-29 field goals after missing five field goals in 17 attempts in limited duty for the Ravens in 2009. Cundiff benefited from receiving 20 field-goal attempts from inside 40 yards last season, including 11 inside 30 yards, as the Ravens struggled in the red zone. Baltimore finished in the bottom third of the league with a 49-percent red zone touchdown rate. If the Ravens improve in the red zone, it'll likely be to Cundiff's determent. A career 77-percent kicker, Cundiff's high accuracy last season probably won't be repeated. Cundiff also doesn’t provide value in leagues that reward bonus points for distance kicking (0-for-1 last year from 50-plus), and weather could be a factor as four of his last five games are at cold-weather sites. But at least he knows his job is safe after signing a five-year contract in January.

The Ravens signed Graham just before press time, and we’d have to think he's the favorite to win the job. Cundiff joined the Ravens in November last season after he was released by the Browns a few weeks before, but was just 7- of-12 from beyond 30 yards last season and is just a career 61.6 percent kicker from that range. Graham had been a top-10 kicker from 2005-2007, and made two kicks from 50-plus a year ago as well as all three of his attempts from 40-plus. The Ravens offense should take a step up this year with Anquan Boldin in the fold and Joe Flacco continuing to develop in his third year. The unresolved battle knocks Graham down a peg, but there's upside if and when he secures the job.

Cundiff will battle Nick Novak and possibly John Carney for the starting job in Kansas City. Whoever wins is likely to be kicking for a team whose offense could resemble the 2006 Raiders or the 2007 49ers. The Chiefs are going through major rebuilding on offense, as they ranked 31st last season, and even if Larry Johnson stays healthy in 2008, this team will struggle to score points. Last season's array of kickers totaled just 78 points, and this year's bunch isn't likely to improve upon that by a wide enough margin to be worth considering.

Cundiff leapfrogged Aaron Elling on the depth chart during training camp, although Falcon kickers last season made just 23 field goals, which was good for 18th in the league; so whoever wins the kicker battle probably won't be close to leading the league in points this season, especially with quarterback Michael Vick's status in question.

Cundiff starts the summer atop the Packers depth chart, but the four-year veteran has yet to show reliability. He’s converted just 73.2 percent in his career and goes to a team whose offense scored 14 less touchdowns in 2005 than in 2004. Ryan Longwell retained his kicking value because Green Bay consistently gave him more than 40 extra points, but that won’t happen in 2006.

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Cundiff reversed a shaky rookie season to post respectable numbers, including 3 of 5 from 50-plus. His 2003 production is about as close to the league average kicker as you will get. In Year One of the Parcells era, the Cowboys moved from last in scoring to 21st. There are some changes in the offense, so we’ll have to see how that plays out.

Cundiff has only his incumbency going for him in 2003, as his 4-for-9 showing from outside 40 yards is not up to NFL standards.