Fansided

10 UDFAs who could make the most impact in the 2020 NFL season

By Matt Conner

HONOLULU, HI - NOVEMBER 09: Josh Love #12 of the San Jose State Spartans looks downfield for an open receiver during the second quarter of the game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Aloha Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
HONOLULU, HI - NOVEMBER 09: Josh Love #12 of the San Jose State Spartans looks downfield for an open receiver during the second quarter of the game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Aloha Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 07: Rodrigo Blankenship #98 of the Georgia Bulldogs attempts a field goal in the first half against the LSU Tigers during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 07: Rodrigo Blankenship #98 of the Georgia Bulldogs attempts a field goal in the first half against the LSU Tigers during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

10. Rodrigo Blankenship, K, Indianapolis Colts

Adam Vinatieri‘s kicking woes are certainly no secret at this point after the decorated kicker missed 8-of-25 field-goal attempts in 2019, good for a 68 percent completion rate (off of his career rate of 84.3 percent entering last season). Even worse, Vinatieri missed 6 extra points. He’s got potential Hall of fame credentials overall, but the Colts are clearly moving on in 2020 (and Vinatieri even put his house in Indy on the market this summer).

The preseason competition will come down to Chase McLaughlin, who fared well in relief of Vinatieri last season (four games), and Rodrigo Blankenship, a rookie free agent from the University of Georgia. McLaughlin converted 5 of 6 attempts for the Colts down the stretch and has fans in the building at Lucas Oil Stadium, but the Colts are fifth team and a long-term opportunity has yet to present itself.

Blankenship was given a $20K bonus to sign with the Colts, which speaks to his importance to the team. That could end up as competition and nothing more, but Blankenship’s collegiate resume is strong, a list highlighted by the Lou Groza award for college football’s best kicker in 2019. Blankenship was successful on 87 of 90 field-goal attempts in college and never once missed on 200 extra-point attempts. He looks like a pretty sure bet at the next level, and the Colts might kick themselves (pun intended) if they let him walk for the long-term.

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