The New York Jets’ kicking situation has been one of the main headlines of OTAs and will remain so throughout the summer.

Currently rostered at the position, the Jets have Jason Sanders and Cade York after cutting Lenny Krieg, Will Ferrin, and Younghoe Koo.

Entering the summer, Sanders and York are expected to battle it out for the team’s starting role.

Who should fans expect to win the competition?

Previewing the Jets’ kicking battle

York, 25, signed with the Jets during the heat of free agency, marking his seventh team since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2022.

Throughout 23 career games, York has converted 33 of his 45 field goal attempts (73.4%) and 51 of his 54 extra point attempts (94.4%).

While he has flashed his leg strength, with a career-long of 59 yards, consistency has been York’s biggest issue. He has missed four kicks from 30-39 yards and another four from 40-49 yards.

He last kicked in 2024 with the Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders before spending last season on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.

Sanders is the much more seasoned option in this competition.

In 116 career NFL games throughout seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Sanders has hit 84.6% of his career field goals and 96.6% of his extra-point tries. From 50+, he has converted 33 of his 48 attempts (68.8%). His career long is a bit shorter than York’s, coming at 57 yards.

Like York, Sanders last kicked in 2024 after missing 2025 due to a severe hip injury sustained during the preseason. In 2024, he nailed 37 of 41 field goal tries (90.2%), with two misses from 40-49 yards and the other two from 50+.

Based on their respective career track records, Sanders appears to be the favorite in this battle entering the summer. He is much more established and consistent, whereas York has been a journeyman kicker throughout his NFL career.

However, it remains to be seen how Sanders will look a year removed from his hip injury. Some kickers never seem to recover after suffering a significant lower-body injury. There is a chance that Sanders just simply isn’t the same kicker anymore.

While it remains unknown who the Jets’ Week 1 kicker will be, it appears that Sanders and York will each get a fair chance to prove their worth.