The Pittsburgh Steelers expected big things out of kicker Josh Scobee in 2015 after giving up a 2016 sixth round pick for him. That is, until the former Jacksonville Jaguars kicker went 6/10 along with a missed extra point four games into the season. Scobee hit the lowest of lows after being the sole reason for Pittsburgh losing a Thursday Night Football game to their AFC North rival, Baltimore Ravens. After the game, he was quickly cut, and the Steelers signed Chris Boswell.
Boswell was a no-name at the time, as he had yet to play in an NFL game. He played college ball at Rice, so not many fans knew what to expect out of him. Well, fast forward seven years later, and Boswell has established himself as one of the game's premier kickers. Justin Tucker is basically the consensus best kicker in the NFL, but Boswell has an argument for being right behind him.
In seven seasons, he's somehow made just one Pro Bowl. Well, actually, Tucker is the reason why. For his career though, Boswell is 182/206 (88.3%) on field goal tries and 231/245 (94.3) on PATs. It's crazy that he's missed just 10 more FGs than PATs across seven years in Pittsburgh. Other than his anomaly of a season in 2018 in which he went 13/20 (65%) on FGs and missed five PATs, Boswell has been absolute money for the Steelers. He's made at least 84% of his FG attempts in every season except 2018 and at least 90% in all but two seasons.
Pittsburgh Steelers special teams coach Danny Smith (left) and kicker Chris Boswell (right) chat before the season opener in Buffalo in 2021. | Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
A victim to constant criticism from Steelers fans, special teams coordinator Danny Smith deserves praise for his work with Boswell. Smith's spent nine seasons with the Steelers as the team's ST coordinator. With OTAs ongoing, Smith mentioned Boswell and the prospects of his future with the Steelers via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Brian Batko.
"He'll get a new deal at some point."
Boswell enters 2022 in the last year of his contract. This would be his second lucrative contract extension with the Steelers after he signed a five-year, $19.72 million deal in 2018. At the time, it made him one of the league's highest-paid kickers. Now, at just over $4 million per year, Boswell is ninth amongst kickers in annual salaries. Tucker remains atop the list at $5 million per year and at 31 years old, it wouldn't be surprising to see Boswell get that money in what may be his last big-time deal.
With the retirement of Stephon Tuitt, the Steelers now have additional cap space to spend on free agents or potential contract extensions. Boswell, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Diontae Johnson are all in-line for extensions, as it's just a matter of who gets the money.
Steelers Camp, August 2020, Diontae Johnson (#18) cataches a pass over Minkah Fitzpatrick (#39). | Steelers.com
How much money do you guys think Boswell deserves? Do you think he will retire a Steeler? Let us know your thoughts on Boswell and a potential extension!
#SteelerNation
