Gang Green Nation
Over the next few months, we’re breaking down all of the undrafted free agents signed by the Jets since April’s draft. However, today we are focusing on another recent veteran addition; kicker Jason Sanders.
The 30-year old Sanders is listed at 5’11″ and 186 pounds and was a seventh round pick out of New Mexico in 2018. He had seven solid seasons with the Miami Dolphins, during which he was an all-pro in 2020. However, he didn’t play last season due to injury.
Background
Sanders was unranked as a high school recruit, but enrolled at New Mexico and was their kickoff specialist in his first season in 2014. He got some chances to contribute as a placekicker in 2015 but missed four of his seven field goal attempts.
Sanders broke out in 2016 as he made 12 of 13 field goals and all 59 of his extra point attempts. That included a game-winning field goal with 66 seconds left in a win over Utah State.
In 2017, he only made 10 of his 15 field goal attempts but was still drafted by the Dolphins in the seventh round the following April.
He impressed as a rookie, making 18 of 20 field goals. However, he missed seven in his second season.
2020 was Sanders’ best season to date, as he led the NFL in scoring and missed just three of 39 field goals attempts to earn all-pro honors.
However, he regressed again in 2021, missing a career-high eight field goal attempts. Since then, he has had three solid seasons, but spent the entire 2025 season on injured reserve.
Miami released Sanders in March and he was picked up by the Giants, but they cut him last week.
The Jets signed Sanders last week after having released Younghoe Koo following some accuracy issues during OTAs.
Now let’s break Sanders down in a variety of categories, based on in-depth research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Sanders isn’t very big, and didn’t conduct a workout at his pro day. However, he is a former soccer player and has shown flashes of athleticism as a tackler and on onside kicks and fake field goals.
Leg Strength
Sanders has an impressive leg. Although his longest field goal at the NFL level is just 57 yards, he has made several long kicks that would have been good from much further out than that.
He had made 21 of 34 field goals from beyond 50 at the NFL level entering the 2024 season, but had his best year from long range, making 12 of 14. He has also been captured on film making 70-yarders in practice.
Sanders’ leg strength has also been an asset on kickoffs. He has a 74 percent touchback rate, including a career-high 84 percent in 2023.
Accuracy
Sanders has an impressive 85 percent field goal accuracy rate at the NFL level and had been over 80 percent in each of the past three seasons entering last year. That included an over-90 percent success rate in...
