The Green Bay Packers are widely thought to be a contender in the NFC heading into 2024. After an up and down start to the 2023 season, the team finished 7-3 in their last ten games. That included a huge win over the Cowboys in the Wild Card round and a three point loss to the 49ers in the divisional round.
Heading into 2024 the Packers are looking to retool to get right back into playoff (and hopefully Super Bowl) conversations. That could mean reaching out to a UFL star.
The Green Bay Packers Identified As Team Who Needs To Reach Out To UFL Kicker Jake Bates
According to Andrew Kulha of YardBarker:
Kicker Jake Bates became a hero over the first weekend of UFL football action.
With his Michigan Panthers trailing the St. Louis Battlehawks, 16-15, with just seconds left in the game, Bates drilled a 64-yard goal to give the Panthers the win.
Not only was it a clutch kick, but this thing didn’t just squeak by the uprights. Bates boomed it, and in the process, he got himself on the radar for multiple kicker-hungry NFL teams.
And frankly, there’s no reason the Green Bay Packers shouldn’t be among them. In fact, the Pack should just go ahead and submit a contract over to Bates’ agent before this thing gets away from them.
The Packers signed veteran Greg Joseph earlier this offseason to create competition for soon-to-be second-year kicker Anders Carlson, but frankly, does either kicker inspire confidence for what is otherwise shaping up to be a Super Bowl-contending roster?
Joseph has made 100-of-121 NFL field goals over five seasons but he’s essentially a journeyman, having kicked for the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans and most recently, the Minnesota Vikings for the past three seasons. Yes, he found his place in Minnesota, but great kickers don’t have that many teams under their belt at just 29 years old.
The Packers Will Have Competition At The Kicker Position This Year
The Packers selected Anders Carlson in the sixth round of the 2023 draft because of his leg strength. Despite that, his accuracy is questionable. His field goals last season were just 27-of-33, and he missed a lot of extra points (34-of-39).
His long field goal was only 53 yards, and he missed three of five attempts from 50 yards or more.
The Packers also signed veteran Greg Joseph for competition, however, the Packers would be silly not to consider one more kicker for some added competition in camp.
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