The Dallas Cowboys are headed for their second straight season without Dan Bailey. Last year, Brett Maher did a decent job as the team’s kicker but didn’t prove enough to be the unquestionable starter for the team going forward. However, the Cowboys haven’t done much to upgrade the position.
The team could very well continue with Maher as the kicker. After all, 2018 was his first year on an NFL roster, which means there could be room for improvement for the 29 year old. It will come down to whether or not the Cowboys feel they can get someone better.
This year, many options were expected to be available during free agency, but the best ones were quickly re-signed by their respective teams. Will Lutz, Robbie Gould, Josh Lambo, Stephen Gostkowski and Adan Vinatieri all stayed on their teams.
However, there’s a big name out there that hasn’t signed with any other team. Matt Bryant was released from the Atlanta Falcons after spending 10 seasons in red and black. Bryant just turned 43 a few days ago, but I’m still surprised he remains a free agent in June.
Last season, age didn’t seem to matter for the veteran. Bryant made 20 out of 21 field goals (95.2%). The one miss came on a 50+ attempt, a category in which he went four for five on the year, including a 57-yard bomb.
In contrast, Maher went 29 for 36 on the season (80.6%). Although he made way more attempts, the truth is he wasn’t as reliable. When kicking long-range FG he actually did pretty well, though. He nailed six out of seven attempts from beyond 50. One of those six was a 62-yard FG.
It’s Maher’s inconsistency that should concern the Dallas Cowboys. In attempts from 30-49 yards, Maher went 13 for 19 (68.4%).
The Dallas Cowboys will be a Super Bowl contender in 2019, and kicker is a position that shouldn’t be overlooked. Brett Maher deserves a chance to remain the team’s starter, but he hasn’t done enough to keep the team from reviewing other options.
Matt Bryant might be the best one available, and the Cowboys have enough cap space to sign the veteran to a one-year deal. Of course, Bryant might be thinking about retirement. Whichever team manages to sign the veteran will get the eight most accurate kicker in NFL history. Hopefully, it’s the Cowboys.
