Re-sign or Let Go and Prediction: Packers K Mason Crosby
By Paul Bretl
This upcoming offseason, the Green Bay Packers have 14 unrestricted free agents to make decisions on either before or during NFL free agency.
Over the next few weeks, my “Re-sign or Let go & Prediction” series is back, where I will be taking a look at each of the Packers’ unrestricted free agents, and examining why Green Bay may try to re-sign them, why they would let them walk, and then I’ll make a prediction.
Next up is kicker and future member of the Packers Hall of Fame, Mason Crosby. If you’ve missed any of the other articles in this series, you can find them all below.
Why the Packers would re-sign Mason Crosby
Well, as we’ve seen across the NFL for a number of seasons, reliable kickers don’t exactly grow on trees, and it’s not as if the Packers have a clear replacement for Mason Crosby already on the roster. Although Crosby has had the occasional down season, for the most part, he has been incredibly steady, including during the 2022 season.
Crosby would go on to make 37 of his 39 extra-point attempts and 25 of the 29 field-goal attempts he had, which included missing only one at less than 50 yards, according to PFF ($$). There is also something to be said for his comfortability kicking in the cold at Lambeau Field.
The odds of the Packers’ next kicker being a downgrade in comparison to Crosby are greater than them being able to find an upgrade. Also, if Aaron Rodgers is back in Green Bay, will he want Crosby with him?
Why the Packers won’t re-sign Mason Crosby
Crosby will turn 39 years old next season, and although he has been steady from 45 yards and in, he has clearly lost some power. Of his four misses, three came from over 50 yards, including coming up short on a few, when most NFL kickers have the ability to knock down 60-yarders.
However, where Crosby’s loss of power is most evident is on kickoffs. Nearly 80% of Crosby’s kickoffs were returned, which was the second-highest rate in the NFL. His 15 touchbacks were also the third-fewest, and he had the lowest hangtime in football. This wasn’t only the case in 2022 but in 2021 as well, and there were two games this past season where the Packers had two kickers active, with Ramiz Ahmed meant to handle kickoffs.
On his last contract, Crosby ranked eighth among kickers in average annual value, and with his consistency, he could again rank among the game’s highest-paid kickers, which could be too much for the Packers to spend, given his limitations and their tight salary cap situation.
Prediction: The Packers don’t re-sign Mason Crosby
Ultimately, I think the Packers’ salary cap limitations, coupled with Crosby’s declining power on kickoffs and inconsistency from 50-plus yards, will lead to Green Bay looking in another direction, which does come with some risk. Or, who knows, maybe Crosby will decide to retire. Because of past contract restructures, Crosby will leave behind a $1 million dead cap hit.