The NFL Changes Kickoff Rules

The NFL has changed the kickoff rules beginning in the 2024 season. This change has been a long time coming. We've seen the league make small changes over the course of the last decade in the hopes of lessening the hits that come when guys are given a 60 yard running start. With a better understanding of concussions, and the effect they have on players post-career lives, the NFL has made major changes to the kickoff rule.

In the before times, the ball was kicked off from the 30 yard line, the teams were 10 yards apart from each other and we saw some massive collisions and a lot of return attempts. They eventually moved the kickoff to the 35 yard line which led to a lot more kickoffs reaching the endzone leading to touchbacks. Even with the balls reaching the endzone, some of these returners want to make some highlight plays leading to more massive collisions.

To lessen the chance of these huge collisions the league has made major changes the kickoff rule. It's in place for the 2024 season and if all goes well it will be up for renewal in 2025. Here is a breakdown of when kickoffs are going to look like in the NFL beginning in this season.

Kickoff placement

The kicker will continue to kickoff from his teams own 35 yard line.

Kicking Team Positioning

The players on the kicking team are being moved all the way up to the opposing team's 40 yard line. This eliminates the players sprinting 50 yards downfield before colliding with the return team's players. They will now be only 5 yard separated from the receiving team's front line of players. So 10 players on the kicking team are at the 40 yard line.

Return Team Positioning

Nine of the 11 players on the return team will have to lineup at their own 35 yard line or within 5 yards of that. So between their 35 and 30 yard line. The NFL is calling this the setup zone.

Returner Positioning

The remaining two players on the return team will be in the normal return position, but now the area from the 20 yard line to the endzone will be called the landing area.

Actions once ball is kicked

After the ball is kicked the kicker is no longer allowed to cross the 50 yard line.

Both the kicking and return team players can't move until the ball hits the ground or a player in the landing zone or endzone. The two returners can obviously move to catch the kickoff.

Any ball the lands in the landing zone has to be returned.

If a ball hits in the landing zone and goes into the endzone the returners can still down a ball for a touchback. The ball will be placed at the 20 yard line for the offense to begin their drive. If the kicker kicks it into the endzone in the air and it's downed for a touchback the offense will start at the 30 yard line.

Here is how the lineup will look from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero:

Penalizing the kicking team incentivizes the kicker to put the ball in the landing zone forcing a return tells you the league is really trying to keep kickoff returns in the game. It makes a lot of sense because a long kick return or a return for a touchdown is one of the most exciting plays in the game. We'll see how this trial goes for the 2024 season and if the new look kick is here to stay. A play that is staying in the football... The Tush Push/Brotherly Shove.

The Eagles have made quite a name for themselves shopping at Georgia in recent seasons. In the 2022 draft, they took Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean. Last year they drafted Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, and Kelee Ringo, while also trading for D'Andre Swift. It's to the point people have joked the Eagles are Georgia North.

The success of those moves has varied. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis played really well in the first half of the season. Carter likely just hit a rookie wall, but there is real concern about the conditioning of Jordan Davis. That was a knock on him coming into the NFL, and he fell off the edge of a cliff in his 2nd year.

Then you have Nakobe Dean. He basically redshirted his rookie season. 2023 was supposed to be his breakout year. But injuries derailed it right out of the gate. Even when he came back for a bit, he was never quite right, and a 2nd trip to the IR finished his season.

Nolan Smith, like Dean, barely saw the field in his rookie season. His explosiveness in camp blew the Eagles away. But once they got to actual games, it became clear he needed to improve his play strength.

Finally, Kelee Ringo sat for most of his rookie season but did impress in a limited role late in the season.

Will they continue to add to their collection of Georgia players? Or will the struggles of some of their current players steer them in a different direction?

Georgia may not have made it a 3-peat as National Champions, but they were the number 1 ranked team for most of the season. There should still be a lot of talented Bulldogs in the draft. But which ones might interest the Eagles?

Even after signing CJ Gardner Johnson, the Eagles could still use help at Saftey. Reed Blankenship struggled as a starter, and Sydney Brown will miss the start of the season.

Bullard makes a ton of sense. He is a physical box safety type player, who can easily move into the slot. Given that both Safety and slot corner are needs for them.

Jordan Reid of ESPN even projected he could be a fit for the Eagles in the next draft earlier in the season.  

Of all the Georgia guys, he is probably the one that would make the most sense for the Eagles at this point. He is projected to be a 3rd round pick. The Kenny Pickett trade turned their 3rd into a 4th. But they could easily acquire a 3rd via a trade down, or a trade up. He could also fall into the 4th round. They also good take him in the 2nd. He is a good fit for the Eagles either way.

Eagles have their center of the future in Cam Jurgens. They have their RG of the future in Tyler Steen. Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson have the left side covered. But despite still being an All-Pro, the Eagles may have to start thinking about bringing in a Lane Johnson replacement soon.

He does not have the best history with injuries, and already has a Hall of fame resume. Johnson could be a guy who retires earlier than usual, so it's not the worst idea to have a replacement in place. And why not go shopping at Georgia for that? 

Amrius Mims could be a 1st round pick. We know the Eagles are more than willing to spend draft capital on an O-Linemen to let them sit for a year or even 2. They intended to do it with Landon Dickerson, they did it with Cam Jurgens and Tyler Steen, and they once did it with Andre Dillard.  

Mel Kiper had some high praise for Mims before the season.  

The Eagles need a young cornerback. Darius Slay played well last year but is on the wrong side of 30. James Bradberry was a disaster. And while they have a collection of young corners, none have done enough to trust as your starter next season.

Lassiter is maybe not as polished as the other Georgia guys on this list. There also will be more polished cornerbacks available at pick 22. Picking him there, would be a bit of a reach. But he is a solid prospect. And if they don't land a corner in the 1st round he might be a good option in the 2nd.

Despite being undersized, he is a physical corner and improved every season while at Georgia.

Bowers is sure to be the first Bulldog off the board. It is not common for a Tight End to go in the top 10, but like Kyle Pitts, Bowers is the type of prospect who can change that. He has yet to make too much of an impact this year for the Bulldogs, having just 13 catches for 135 yards through 3 games, with no TDs. But teams love the potential, and he is projected to go in the top 10.  

That also means he is not an option for the Eagles. He would have to fall a long way to get to them. And they also have far more pressing needs than a second TE. 

Signing Saquon Barkley eliminated the Eagles' need at RB for the most part. But they may need a RB3. Saquon will be the workhorse, and Kenny Gainwell will take the carries Barkley doesn't get. But they will still need a 3rd RB.

Milton had a productive season in 2023. 790 yards, 6.5 per carry, and 14 TDs. He lacks top-end speed and gave them nothing as a receiving threat. But he is a capable power back.

He will likely be there late on day 3, or even as a UDFA. Milton is not going to be a starter somewhere. But can he be a piece of a RB rotation? Maybe. And he might be a good option for the Eagles.

Ladd McConkey saw his draft stock shoot up during the combine. At one point he was thought of as a 3rd round pick. Now? Some people have him going in the 1st round.

He was not super productive at Georgia. In 8 games 478 yards and 2 TDs. but scouts love his football smarts. He runs clean crisp routes and finds ways to get open.

His smaller size has some people calling him a slot WR. Which would be fine for the Eagles since that is what they need. they already have two elite outside WRs but have gotten very little from the slot. They signed Parris Campbell and Devante Parker. But neither have done enough in their career to trust 100%.

A 1st round pick would be a massive overpay for a slot WR. Especially when they have bigger needs. But a 2nd, or a 3rd if they acquire one and he falls there? Dont rule McConkey out.

At West Virginia, Smith primarily played corner. But once he transferred to Georgia, they used him all over the field. He brings both scheme and positional versatility to whatever team drafts him. He can step back as deep safety, but also step into the box to defend the run.

He lacks both the ideal size and speed to be a star in the NFL. His upside is probably limited. But he should be able to be a role player in a team's DB room. And the ability to play in the slot and at Safety makes him intriguing for the Eagles.

Smith is projected to be a day 3 pick. Last year they used their 4th to snag Kelee Ringo. Maybe they spend a 4th on another Georgia DB this year.

The other Georgia RB in the draft, and the more highly regarded one. While Milton is expected to be a 7th-round pick, or even a UDFA, Edwards might go earlier on day 3.

He finished 2023 with more total yards than Milton, but fewer carries. He gave more as a pass catcher though. Not to say Edwards gives you a ton as a pass catcher, Milton just gives you nothing. Edwards might also be a better blocker.

Edwards has more explosiveness, but less consistency. Where Milton will hit the holes, and get the yards the defense gives him, Edwards can sometimes run himself out of a bigger gain.

Neither guy is likely to be a star. but like his former teammate, he seems perfectly capable of being the 3rd guy. Once you get to round 6 or 7, it is pretty much a crap shoot. If the Eagles want to ensure they get some depth at RB, which given Barkley's injury history might be a good idea, either Georgia guy might be worth a shot.