Cowboys should sign breakout USFL star to solve kicker conundrum

It speaks volumes about the state of the Dallas Cowboys roster that the single biggest question mark resides at the kicker position. We'd feel better about the running back and linebacker rooms if a veteran was added, but kicker is the lone position on the roster without a starter in place.

You can never rule out re-signing Brett Maher, but Jerry Jones hinted at season's end that Dallas would move in a different direction. It's a shame given how prolific and clutch Maher was during the regular season, but his yip-stained playoffs seemingly has given the front office no other choice but to move on.

Special teams coach John Fassel mentioned veterans Robbie Gould, Mason Crosby and Ryan Succop as potential targets and it certainly would behoove the Cowboys to add a kicker who's been there and done that on the big stage.

However, what if we told you there's a kicker taking the USFL by storm who may soon garner NFL interest if he hasn't already?

Meet Luis Aguilar, who hit a walk-off 55-yard field goal for the Philadelphia Stars on Sunday to cap an 8-for-8 showing (!) vs the NJ Generals.

Should the Cowboys sign USFL licker Luis Aguilar?

A performance like that is going to grab the NFL's attention.

While most teams have starters in place for the 2023 season, the Cowboys aren't alone with their vacancy. They have Tristan Vizcaino, whom they signed during the playoffs amid Maher's meltdown and re-signed to the active roster after the season.

Suffice it to say, though, that no one is banging the table for Vizcaino to open the season as the Cowboys' starting kicker. He's made stops with eight different teams since he entered the league in 2019. The former UDFA is 11-of-12 on field goals in his career, but just 15-of-20 on extra-point attempts in four seasons.

There obviously would be great risk in signing a USFL player. The biggest question would be if Aguilar could handle the pressure of kicking in the NFL. The big stage wasn't made for everyone, which we learned with Maher after he was arguably a top-five kicker during the 2022 regular season.

What can't be questioned about Aguilar, however, is his kicking ability and leg strength. On Sunday alone, he accounted for all 24 of Philadelphia's points and drilled kicks from 56, 55, 41, 49 and 42 yards. In the process, he tied the all-time pro football record for made field goals in a single game.

This comes after Aguilar broke the FCS record for longest field goal in 2019 with a 57-yarder. That same year, he won the Fred Mitchell Award as the nation's top kicker among the 750 (!) FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA football teams.

Nobody's advocating for Dallas to sign Aguilar and make him the starter upon arrival. But a workout couldn't hurt to see if he can stick on the team until training camp if the front office is reluctant to pony up the necessary money to sign one of Gould, Crosby, or Succop.

Even then, Aguilar could be a worthwhile look.