By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Saints will host two kickers for tryouts amidst their considerations of making a change at the position following kicker Blake Grupe’s struggles on the season.
Per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, the Saints will host former LSU kicker Cade York and former Baltimore Raven Justin Tucker.
York’s career field goal percentage of 73.3% is below Grupe’s 79.8%, but north of the incumbent kicker’s 69.2% rate in the 2025 season. York most recently kicked for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024 but has not yet kicked in a regular season game this year. He has also spent time with the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Browns.
Tucker was recently reinstated by the league after serving a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL’s code of conduct policy.
More specifically, the violation and suspension are both tied to allegations by 16 Baltimore-area massage therapists of inappropriate sexual behavior during massage sessions dating between 2012 and 2016.
No criminal charges have been filed at this time and Tucker denies the claims of his accusers. However, he did not appeal the league’s decision to suspend him. Tucker was released by the Ravens in May of 2025, citing football performance reasons rather than his legal situation.
The Saints’ decision to host Tucker has already drawn ire from the team’s fanbase, akin to that it received while pursuing quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022 before he signed with the Browns. Watson served an 11-game suspension that year after facing similar accusations from at least 24 massage therapists.
During Tucker’s 2024 campaign, he connected on 73.3% of his field goal attempts, a career-low. However, he is still the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history with an 89.1% field goal rate. Whether he still has that accuracy and reliability will be a big part of the Saints’ consideration. To others, his on-field numbers won’t be enough to outweigh his off-field accusations.
The Saints could sign one of these kickers, should they choose, following their workouts. But they also have a built-in option on their practice squad in Irish kicker Charlie Smyth. Smyth has been with the two for two years now and could see an opportunity open as New Orleans considers its kicking options beyond Grupe.
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