Former Indianapolis Colts placekicker Rodrigo Blankenship is finding success with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL. With this, the Colts should consider acquiring him back on the roster. Currently, Spencer Shrader is at the top of their depth chart. While Shrader is young and has potential, he has very minimal experience. He has never attempted a field goal longer than 50 yards, with his longest being just 41 yards. He has made all five of the field goals he has tried, but this does not paint a great picture of what his ability is. Running with him in 2025 would be a complete wild card.
Placekickers are a very vital aspect of a team’s success. Throughout NFL history, kickers have been winning championships on last-minute field goals or losing championships on last-minute field goals. Placekickers instill confidence in an offense. If a drive stalls short of the red zone, the team can still feel proud knowing they have a good chance for three points. As of late, the Colts have struggled with this position, and they cannot afford to go into another season with instability on special teams. Therefore, one way for the Colts to help instill confidence and ensure that the offense has confidence when drives stall is to acquire a kicker like Rodrigo Blankenship.
Why the Colts Should Consider Rodrigo Blankenship
His Growth As a Kicker
Rodrigo Blankenship went undrafted to the Colts in 2020 and had the opportunity to be their starting kicker that same year. As a rookie, he made 32 out of 37 field goals, with 53 being his longest. His rookie season wasn’t great, but it showed enough promise for the Colts to see a future. Unfortunately, the next season took a very different turn. Blankenship would suffer a hip injury that affected his game and consistency. Ultimately, in 2022, the Colts cut him after he missed a game-winning field goal in overtime against the Houston Texans.
Since then, Blankenship bounced around a couple of practice squads before landing a starting job with the Battlehawks. This recent stint has come in 2025, and through eight games, he has made 17 out of 18 field goals, and is five for six on tries from 50 yards or more, with 56 being his longest. Needless to say, Blankenship has certainly found a good place in the UFL where he can grow and develop. The question now, though, is whether he wants to transition this newfound growth back to the NFL. If he does, the Colts should take advantage and sign Rodrigo Blankenship back to their roster.
His Fit With the Organization
As mentioned, Rodrigo Blankenship started his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts. It was during this stint that the league was able to see the potential and talent. Unfortunately, injuries hindered his consistency, and the Colts were unwilling to be patient. Now that Blankenship has spent time on practice squads, learned under veteran kickers, and spent time away from the game, the growth is being cultivated through the UFL.
It is not uncommon for players to go straight from the UFL to the NFL in the same year. The most notable kicker to do so is Brandon Aubrey, who went from the Birmingham Stallions to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. This signing by the Cowboys has proved to be a tremendous addition, and Aubrey has instilled confidence in the offense. Blankenship could find himself in the same boat if the Colts reach out. He is already familiar with the organization and is a better kicker than before. The Colts need stability on special teams, which will translate to the offense, and Rodrigo Blankenship could provide that.
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