3 kickers Cowboys could sign to upgrade from Brett Maher after playoff debacle

Now that the NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, the focus shifts to minicamps and offseason workouts. For most teams, their current roster reflects who will be there in July when the real camp begins. For the Dallas Cowboys they still have a position that needs to be filled before July. That is their starting kicker.

Jerry Jones said early in the offseason the team was starting over in the kicking game. Brett Maher was brought back last season and had a solid second go-around. He went 29 of 32 on field goal attempts and 50 of 53 on extra point attempts.

However, in the Wild Card matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he missed four extra points. His meltdown prompted the Cowboys to sign Tristan Vizcaino to their practice squad ... and Jerry Jones to console Maher before the Divisional Round game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Maher, though, ended up kicking the whole game against the 49ers. The same problems plagued him as he missed the extra point after Dallas' first touchdown. He would respond by hitting both field goal attempts in the loss. His performace was not enough and Maher's fate was sealed as the Cowboys' future kicker.

With no signs of Maher coming back, kicker has been a need for the Cowboys the whole offseason, but they have yet to make a move. After not signing one during the initial free agency period, most expected them to either draft a kicker late or sign one as an undrafted free agent. Neither happened and now it leaves them going into team workouts without a key position filled.

The hope now is that Dallas will use this period to bring in kickers to try out. That could include finding some more undrafted players or brining in a veteran. After the draft Jerry alluded to a veteran being the most likely option.

Surprisingly, kicker signings have been low so far this offseason, with Matt Gay and Chase McLaughlin being the only veteran kickers to sign wit new teams. There are still good options for the Cowboys if they want to go with a veteran kicker at a reasonable price.

1. Cowboys could sign Mason Crosby

Mason Crosby might be one of the oldest players in the league, but kickers can last fovever if they are consistent. That is what Crosby has been since he entered the NFL in 2007. He was the NFL scoring leader his rookie season and helped the Green Bay Packers win a Super Bowl in 2010.

Cowboys fans might remember Crosby for his performance in the 2016 playoffs. Facing Dallas in the divisional round, Crosby made two 50-yard plus field goals in the final minutes to win the game. It marked the first time a kicker had done so in the postseason.

Crosby's 2019 and 2020 seasons were some of his best. He only missed two field goals and one extra point in 2019 as the Packers advanced to the NFC Championship in Matt LaFleur's first season. In 2020, he went a perfect 16/16 becoming the eighth player in history to record a perfect season kicking field goals.

Despite going 37 of 39 this past season, the Packers opted to not re-sign him and drafted Anders Carlson out of Auburn in the sixth round. Crosby is likely done in Green Bay, but a team could still use his services.

Mike McCarthy drafted him a reunion now in Dallas would completely make sense. At 38 years old and on the last leg of his career, it is hard to imagine Crosby asking a team to break the bank for him. Bringing him to Dallas would be an instant upgrade for special teams.

Cowboys could sign Ryan Succop

Succop found new life in Tampa Bay as part of the Tom Brady era. Despite being drafted as Mr. Irrelevant in 2009 as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Succop has been anything but that for most of his career. His career field goal percentage is 82.9, the longest of his career being 54 yards.

Succop spent his first five years in Kansas City where he made every extra point and had three seasons of going 80% on field goal attempts. After cutting him due to salary cap issues, he signed with the Tennessee Titans. There he enjoyed some of the best years of his career.

In 2017 Succop was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September after going 10 of 11 on field goals. That season he helped the Titans clinch their first playoff berth since 2008 where they won a Wild Card Game against his former team the Chiefs. After the season, Succop signed a five-year contract extension.

Succop would not last the deal. Before 2019, he had knee surgery in the offseason and was placed on injured reserve. He would return to play in six games, but his fate was all but sealed. Tennessee released him after six seasons.

Succop's first season in Tampa Bay was one of the best of his career. He scored a career-high 136 points to help the Buccaneers win their second championship. Despite going 31 of 38 this past season, the Buccaneers released Succop in March.

Succop might not have history with the Cowboys' coaching staff, but he is one of the best veteran options available. Being 36, he definitely would be a better option than Crosby if Dallas desires to stay young. He might not have Pro Bowls to his name, but like Crosby he has a Super Bowl ring on his finger. Succop has generated little interest so far this offseason, so signing him to a one-year deal would not be costly.

3. Cowboys could sign Jonathan Garibay

When the Cowboys have issues at kicker, one thing they typically do is look at their past. Dallas has been notorious for releasing kickers for various reasons, but bringing them back later during their careers. They brought back Shaun Suisham in 2009 after Nick Folk struggled and of course Brett Maher this past season. Jonathan Garibay could be the next example.

Garibay, an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech, was invited to Cowboys training camp last July to compete for the starting kicking job. He and Liram Hajrullahu competed for the first week of camp with neither gaining an edge. Garibay struggled all throughout his first week of camp. His worst day came when he missed four straight.

On August 9th, Dallas opted to sign Brett Maher and Garibay was released before the first preseason game.The move made sense, but once again Dallas is in the same position. With no kicker, much less any idea as to where Dallas plans to find one, Garibay may get a phone call to give it a second shot with the Cowboys.

Garibay had a few moments in college. His junior season, and first as a Red Raider, he went 8 of 11 on field goals including a game-winner to beat the Baylor Bears. His senior year he went 15 of 16 and hit a 62-yard field goal to beat the Iowa State Cyclones. This kick was arguably the biggest reason Garibay generated interest from the Cowboys.

While he has not been on another NFL team since his release, Garibay could be brought in at least for another tryout. He is a player Dallas is familiar with and would cost next to nothing to sign. The Cowboys have nothing to lose bringing in Garibay for another chance.

Your starting kicker is arguably one of the most important positions in football right next to your starting quarterback. The fact Dallas does not have one in place for 2023 is concerning. The Cowboys have been plagued by inconsistent kicking for years.

For a team looking to advance far in the playoffs, you have to have a kicker you know will make the clutch field goals.