Mason Crosby’s contract with the Packers is almost over
The subject of Mason Crosby’s contract was broached during general manager Brian Gutekunst’s press conference last week. Gutekunst made it clear that while he thought Crosby had a great season, the Green Bay Packers will have an open competition for the kicker position next season. Whether Crosby is with the Packers or not. Mason Crosby’s contract could be an issue for the Packers, who are light on cap space.
Crosby, at 38 years old, will hit free agency this offseason. The Packers all-time leading scorer made 86.2 percent of his field goals this season. That’s about 5 percent higher than his career average. But while he’s as accurate as ever, Crosby’s leg strength has often been criticized this year. He saw a sharp decline in touchbacks during kickoffs this season.
Crosby talks about his future
Crosby is one of many Packers who head into the offseason as free agents. But he’s the oldest of them by far. Many players in his situation might think about retirement. But Crosby showed this season that while not all of his game is elite, he can still make meaningful kicks in big moments.
According to Ryan Wood with The Green Bay Press-Gazette, Crosby said he still has ambitions to play in the NFL with the Packers or another team.
“After his career got back on track in 2022, Crosby has no plans to retire. He said working with new special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia “lit a fire back into me” over the past few months. With his strong finish to the season, Crosby believes he still has more quality kicking ahead of him.
The question is whether that will be in Green Bay, where his knowledge of Lambeau Field makes him most valuable.
“I still want to keep playing,” Crosby said. “I don’t have any plans on tying them up. So my plan is to just kind of keep pushing, and kind of look at how I want to work through the offseason to try to give it another go.”
Crosby’s comments indicate he’s wanting to play for the Packers but will look for other options to keep playing.
Replacing a kicker isn’t easy to do. Crosby has been a staple for the Packers at that position for a decade and a half. Hopefully, the Packers can find a kicker who could win a kicking competition against one of the league’s better kickers.
