Chris Boswell ranked among the top kickers entering the 2020 season

Pressing on through the NFL offseason, CBS Sports is continuing to give their top 10 players at given positions going into the 2020 season. With the Steelers already having cornererback Joe Haden and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick towards the top of the lists for defensive backs as well as T.J. Watt grabbing the top spot for edge rusher‘s with Cam Heyward being recognized for interior lineman, the Steelers have managed to put a player on every list released so far. And while Chris Boswell has found himself on the list of the best kickers entering the 2020 season, the Steelers finally were shut out in another area.

As for Boswell and his ranking, he placed sixth according to John Breach of CBS Sports.

Coming off a horrid performance in 2018, Boswell grabbed ahold of the place kicking position early in training camp and never let up. Boswell was one of nine kickers in the NFL who did not miss an extra point on the season, and one of only three who appeared in 16 games and did not have a miss. As for field goals, Boswell was 29 of 31 with a 93.5% accuracy in 2019 which placed him forth among the players with at least 10 attempts.

Since the NFL moved the point after try from the 2 yard line to the 15 yard line in 2015, Boswell became only the fifth kicker who had a 100% accuracy in PAT’s and over a 90% field-goal kicking rate.

While the improvements in 2019 are welcomed, Boswell was not put in the same pressure situations in which he excelled in 2017 and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. In fact, the only field goal Boswell attempted in the final two minutes of a game in 2019 was a 25-yard kick to increase the Steelers lead from 3 to 6 against the Arizona Cardinals with 1:46 remaining in their Week 14 game.

Boswell is the last of four kickers from the AFC on the list behind the Ravens’ Justin Tucker (first), the Chiefs’ Harrison Butker (second), and of the Jaguars’ Josh Lambo (third).

To no one’s surprise, Steelers punter Jordan Barry was left off of the list of the top 10 punters in the NFL.

Believe it or not, Jordan Berry started the 2019 season quite strong for the Steelers. It was over the last quarter of the season when Berry had lost two fumbles and struggled tremendously with this consistency which defined his 2019 campaign. In fact, Berry is not guaranteed his spot on the roster with the Steelers in 2020. Berry’s average of 45.5 yards per punt had him ranked 18th in the NFL in 2019.

With these lists basically being a good talking point at this point of the year, it’s nice to see the Steelers being included in so many. So what do you think about Boswell’s placement going into 2020? Was the 2018 season merely an aberration? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.