Now that the NFL draft is over and the Dallas Cowboys did not select a kicker, I wonder what the solution for the 2023 season might be.
After I begged the team to sign someone for the last few weeks or draft a kicker this past weekend, Jerry Jones finally hinted at possible movement regarding a huge need.
Jones said the team would look for a more veteran kicker on Saturday after the draft.
Jerry Jones: “We'll be looking at a more veteran kicker.”
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 29, 2023
Thank goodness.
Before jumping to conclusions, I want to make sure and contain myself. We know Jerry loves to talk, but this year at least so far, he has backup his words.
Let's dive into a few possible guys who could receive a phone call if the Jones family decides to dial their number.
Robbie Gould
The top guy is clear. Robbie Gould is a veteran kicker; yes, he is age 40. However, he has been perfect in the playoffs. A place Brett Maher struggled last season.
Throughout 16 playoff games in his career, Gould is 29/29 on field goals and 39/39 on extra points, and how could we forget how fantastic he has been against the Cowboys in the postseason?
Recent comments by Gould could make it a bit tricky. He said he would like to play near his home in Chicago.
The Bears haven't seemed interested, at least not yet, but one other thing he said could give Dallas a chance. He said he wanted to play for a winner.
“Well first, I want to win a Super Bowl, obviously, that means a lot to me,” Gould said of why he still wants to keep playing after 18 seasons. “And secondly, it comes down to wanting to be able to score 2,000 points, maybe hit 500 field goals, and ultimately just win.”
I would do whatever I could to get Gould in the door if I were Jerry. If not Gould, then who?
Mason Crosby
Wouldn't it be so funny if the Cowboys brought in the kicker who has left us fans with heartbreak over the years?
Crosby played under Mike McCarthy for several years, so this wouldn't be shocking.
The Packers selected Anders Carlson in the sixth round on Saturday, so depending on how things work, Crosby might be looking for a new team to call home in 2023.
As of right now, Crosby remains a free agent. He is the Packers' all-time leading scorer with 1,918 points.
Could Dallas get two productive seasons out of Crosby? It is hard to tell; he made just one of four attempts from 50+ yards last season
Ryan Succop
The Buccaneers released Ryan Succop in March after three seasons with the team.
Look, I am throwing out names that have been around in this league for some time and have been more than productive. (For the most part).
Succop played in exactly 50 games with the Bucs. He went 84-of-99 on field goal attempts and 132-of-141 on extra points.
In 50 games for the Bucs, he went 84-of-99 on field goal attempts and 132-of-141 on extra points. He even hit the game-winning kick against the Cowboys in the season opener in 2021.
#Cowboys are looking "more of a veteran kicker" following the 2023 #NFLDraft — Jerry Jones says Dallas had prospects in mind but they went off of the board.
"We didn't get the kicker opportunity we thought we'd have, and we had other priorities [at the time]."
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) April 29, 2023
Even the fact Jerry Jones is hinting at the possibility is a good sign. Tristan Vizcaino was brought in when Maher started to struggle in the playoffs.
He has hit 11-of-12 of his career field goal attempts and 15-of-20 extra-point tries over four NFL seasons. I would rather have Dallas bring another veteran kicker and let Vizcaino compete with him for the starting job.
What do you think?
