The Jacksonville Jaguars are keeping kicker Riley Patterson after he accounted for the third most points ever in a season for the franchise. A source told Jaguars Wire that the team has tendered Patterson as an exclusive-rights free agent.
As a player with only two seasons in the NFL under his belt, the Jaguars only needed to extend a qualifying offer (the league minimum) to keep Patterson in Jacksonville.
Patterson, 23, spent his rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, and Detroit Lions. In August, Patterson was waived by the Lions at the end of training camp and was claimed by the Jaguars, who struggled to find a consistent kicker in preseason.
In his first season with the Jaguars, Patterson made 30 of his 35 field goals and all but one of his 37 extra point tries. He hit a 48-yard field goal as time expired to force overtime against the Dallas Cowboys, and he made a 36-yard game-winner against the Los Angeles Chargers in the playoffs.
Former kicker Mike Hollis is the only Jaguars player to ever score more points than the 126 Patterson recorded during the 2022 regular season.
Patterson is one of four exclusive-rights free agents for the Jaguars this offseason, along with wide receiver Tim Jones, and offensive linemen Cole Van Lanen and Blake Hance.
