According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, free agent kicker Steven Hauschka is expected to sign with the Buffalo Bills. Hauschka had spent the last six seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks. He joined the team in 2011 and was with the Seahawks for their championship run in 2013. In March of 2014 Hauschka re-signed with the team on a three year contract that expired after the 2016 season. The Seahawks signaled they were moving on from Hauschka when they signed Blair Walsh this off-season.
Former Seahawks' K Steve Hauschka expected to sign in Buffalo if no snags in final negotiations, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2017
Report: Steven Hauschka To Sign With the Buffalo Bills
Hauschka entered the NFL in 2008 but did not land a permanent starting gig until he was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks prior to the start of the 2011 season. Hauschka has been top five in field goal percentage in each of the last two seasons, and has hit 22 out of his 26 attempts from 40 yards or more in that time.
While is field goal accuracy has been sterling his distance on kick-offs has been declining. During his first four years with the Seahawks, Hauschka’s average kickoff distance never dipped below 65 yards. His kickoff average peaked in 2011 at 66.3 yards and has declined every year since. In 2016 Hauschka averaged 63.7 yards per kickoff. Despite the decline Hauschka has maintained a distance that ranks in the top half of the league.
In addition, during his first four years with the Seahawks, Hauschka connected on all but two extra point attempts, with both misses coming in the 2012 season. In all he hit 165/167 attempts. Hauschka has been much less successful since the rule change to make extra point conversions from 33 yards out. In the last two seasons Hauschka has missed 10 extra point tries, second most in the league over that span.
This Past Season
Hauschka was a central figure in both of the Seahawks matches against the Arizona Cardinals this past season. The first game was played in Arizona and ended in a 6-6 tie. Hauschka had a chance to win the game with 11 seconds remaining in overtime by making a 28-yard field goal. Hauschka sent the kick wide left. His miss came after an even shorted field goal was missed by the Cardinals with a chance to win on the previous possession.
The rematch was played in Seattle during week 16. The Seahawks lost the game by just three points and it ultimately cost them the second seed in the NFC heading in the postseason. In the game Hauschka had a field goal blocked and missed an extra point that would have given the team a one point lead with one minute remaining.
Early in his career Hauschka was a member of the Minnesota Vikings during the 2008 preseason but did not make the team. He was claimed by the Ravens and spent parts of the 2008 and 2009 seasons with the team. He also spent time kicking for the Denver Broncos towards the end of the 2010 season. Hauschka has also been a member of the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions but never officially kicked for them during regular season play.
