Blake Grupe

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	FG%
Career		34	81.9%
2025		16	78.4%
2024		17	87.1%
2023		17	81.1%

Season	Team	GP	Grade
2025		16	F F Bottom 5%
2024		17	C+ C+ Top 48% — above average
2023		17	D- D- Bottom 12%

Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Among PK contracts at this AAV tier, Blake Grupe earns a C Contract Value Index (CVI). His $1.195M annual deal on a one-year agreement reflects reasonable market positioning for a third-year undrafted kicker, but the C grade reflects a disconnect between what the Colts are paying and what he's delivering on the field—a D+ performance grade indicates inconsistency that doesn't align with full organizational confidence, even if the re-signing headlines frame it that way. The 2025 season saw him appear in all 16 games in a depth role, which underscores his availability but not his impact level; special teams contributors at this contract value are typically expected to execute cleanly and provide measurable value beyond mere presence. At 27 years old and three seasons into his NFL career, Grupe sits at a career inflection point where the next 12 months will determine whether he's a reliable long-term solution or a journeyman placeholder—the Colts' choice to bring him back suggests organizational patience rather than overwhelming faith. The CVI reflects that middle ground: a sensible, low-risk contract for a team in evaluation mode rather than a premium investment in a proven weapon. On a one-year deal with no guaranteed commitments extending beyond 2026, Indianapolis preserves maximum flexibility if production doesn't improve, making this a pragmatic depth contract rather than a value overpay or a steal.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Blake's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Blake Grupe's tape and counting stats together earn a D+ performance grade. The third-year kicker logged 1 tackle across 16 games in the 2025 season—a minimal defensive contribution that reflects the specialized nature of his role rather than any deficiency in his core function—but the modest counting stat underscores that his value proposition is entirely contained in field goal accuracy and clutch range, not impact across the broader box. His 50-yard field goal capability, highlighted in recent coverage, represents his clearest statistical strength and the skill set the Colts organization has identified as justifying re-upping him on a $1.2M AAV deal during the offseason. The D+ grade itself signals inconsistency in converting opportunities and reliability under pressure situations—the inverse of the clutch narrative surrounding his long-range makes—suggesting his floor is shakier than his ceiling. At 27 years old with three seasons of NFL experience as an undrafted free agent, Grupe occupies the middle tier of starter kickers: capable enough to hold down the job and trusted enough by Indianapolis to keep him in place rather than pursue upgrades, but not elite enough to generate the kind of job security that comes with elite accuracy or consistency. The Colts' offseason construction—adding depth across offense and defense while maintaining their roster backbone—indicates they view Grupe as a solved problem at the position, freeing them to focus roster moves elsewhere; his role is to execute field goals reliably without drama, and the organizational confidence in his re-signing suggests management believes he can deliver that foundation-level output consistently enough to support a team trying to stop the bleeding from a 8-9, seven-game losing streak season and climb back into competitive contention.

How Blake Compares at the Position

Blake Grupe ranks 31st of 39 graded pks by performance. That slots Blake between Jake Elliott (D+) just ahead and Charlie Smyth (D+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Blake Grupe enters the 2026 season carrying solidly positive public perception — a B+ sentiment grade that reflects a quiet but meaningful vote of confidence from the Indianapolis Colts organization. The narrative driving that standing is straightforward: the Colts chose to re-sign Grupe as their primary kicker on a $1.2M AAV deal, and media coverage has consistently framed that move as an organizational endorsement rather than a settling-for-less decision, with his 50-yard field goal range cited as evidence he can deliver when the moment demands it. That positive sentiment, however, exists in some tension with his D performance grade — a reminder that perception and production aren't always in sync, and that the goodwill he carries is rooted more in organizational narrative than in dominant on-field output. The recent chatter around his role in an apparent kicking competition adds an undercurrent of intrigue without threatening his standing, as the framing remains that he's the incumbent rather than the challenger. On the roster-construction front, the Colts' offseason moves — locking in extensions for offensive lineman Luke Tenuta and cornerback Cameron Mitchell — signal a team trying to solidify its core rather than blow things up, which keeps the overall environment stable for a special teams contributor like Grupe. He's not generating the kind of buzz that elite kickers earn, but the absence of controversy and the presence of organizational backing make his narrative one of quiet reliability rather than scrutiny. As the regular season sits 125 days out, Grupe's public standing is about as comfortable as a third-year undrafted kicker can realistically hope for — steady, low-drama, and backed by a team that chose to bring him back.