The Green Bay Packers are undergoing a serious youth movement on their roster. Currently, only three players (Preston Smith, Pat O’Donnell, and David Bakhtiari) are over 30 years old. As a result of the movement, several players held in high esteem by fans were not retained.
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Aaron Rodgers, of course, was traded to the New York Jets. Marcedes Lewis was no re-signed and still remains a free agent. Franchise leading scorer Mason Crosby, too, was not re-signed and has been replaced by 2023 NFL Draft pick Anders Carlson.
Related: Wife of Mason Crosby Shares Heartbreaking Message in Regards to Possible Return to Green Bay Packers
Both Lewis and Crosby still want to play somewhere in the NFL this season. Crosby was linked to the Dallas Cowboys for a while, but they just signed Brandon Aubrey. With that job off the market, where else could Crosby go?
3 Teams That Could Use Former Green Bay Packers Kicker Mason Crosby
Last season, Crosby lost some strength in his leg and became a near liability on kickoffs. However, he was still an accurate field goal kicker, hitting 25 of 29 attempts (86.2%) and 37 of 39 extra point attempts (94.9%). While these were not the best numbers in the NFL last season, they were far from the worst.
As training camp looms closer and closer, there may be teams that are looking to re-visit their kicking situations and are open to signing the 16-year veteran.
1. The New York Jets
How wild would it be if Crosby became yet another former Packers player to sign with the New York Jets?
It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility given their kicker situation. Greg Zuerlein was simply not that good last year, hitting just 30 of his 37 (81.1%) field goal attempts. He has actually had it rough the last four years. Since 2019, he has made just 80.1% of his field goals and 93.5 % of his extra points.
If the Jets are serious about being contenders, and trading for Rodgers indicates that they are, they will have to address their kicking situation at some point. And when they do, Crosby will probably be at the top of their list (thanks to Rodgers).
2. Minnesota Vikings
Rodgers followed in Favre’s footsteps by going to the Jets, so how wild would it be if Crosby followed in Ryan Longwell’s footsteps and signed with the Minnesota Vikings?
The Vikings could sure use him. Last season, Greg Joseph made just 78.8% of his field goal attempts (26 of 33) and a terrible 87% of his extra point attempts (40 of 46). Over the course of his career, Joseph has made just 88.7% of his extra point attempts and 83.5% of his field goals.
It would be painful to see Crosby in a Vikings uniform, but playing indoors half a season may also extend his career a bit.
3. New Orleans Saints
Speaking of playing indoors, the New Orleans Saints kicker, Wil Lutz, has been struggling ever since he made the Pro Bowl in 2019. In 2020, he made just 23 of 28 field goals (82.1%). Lutz missed the entire 2021 season with a groin injury and his return in 2022 was, well, not good.
Last season, Lutz made just 23 of his 31 field goal attempts (74.2%), but made all 33 of his extra point attempts. If Lutz does not show that he is back to his Pro Bowl form early, the Saints could be in the market for a different kicker, and Crosby certainly has been better over the past two years.
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