Alex Stelmaszczyk
Saints’ rookie kicker Blake Grupe is far from the typical NFL player appearance, but maybe game-winning preseason kicks can change people’s opinion of him. Grupe shared on Twitter his experience from the Saints’ preseason opener against the Chiefs, where he hit the game-winning kick. He recounted how he was questioned for not having credentials before the game, then successfully made the kick, only to be stopped by security afterward, who mistook him for a fan.
Despite his impressive game-winner, the 5-foot-7, 156-pound Grupe didn’t immediately look like an NFL player and was judged accordingly. Grupe signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent and made the most of his single opportunity, kicking a 31-yard field goal for a walk-off win against the Super Bowl champions. While he is a long shot to make the roster over Will Lutz. He has potential, but I would recommend him to maybe throw on some extra weight so he has more street cred in the locker room.
