The feeling is that Packers are looking to re-sign Mason Crosby

Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst met with reporters at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, and one of the biggest takeaways from those in attendance was that kicker Mason Crosby is expected to return.

Crosby is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the beginning of the new league year on March 15th, after his contract voided on February 20th, leaving behind a dead cap hit of just over $1 million.

Crosby will turn 39 years old this year, and it does appear that he’s lost some power. Of his four field goal misses in 2022, three came from over 50 yards, while most NFL kickers routinely have the distance to make kicks from 60. He was also just 7-for-12 on kicks of over 40 yards in 2021.

In addition to the field goal attempts, Crosby has struggled to get kickoffs to the end zone. Almost 80% of his kickoff attempts were returned last season–the second-highest rate in football. Crosby’s 15 touchbacks were also the third-fewest. Green Bay would even elevate practice squad kicker Ramiz Ahmed on two occasions to do the kickoffs.

However, while this offseason could be seen as an opportunity for the Packers to transition at the kicker position given Crosby’s age, along with his contract being up, there is one big reason to re-sign him: finding a reliable kicker is far from an easy task.

Many teams year after year around the NFL struggled to find consistency at the kicker position. Although Crosby did struggle from distance, he made 25 of his 29 attempts, missing only one kick under 50 yards. He also made 37 of his 39 extra-point attempts as well, and there is something to be said about his comfortability kicking in the Green Bay cold.

It’s easy to say that it’s time to move on, but what’s the alternative? The only kicker on the Packers’ roster right now is Parker White, a 2022 undrafted rookie with no NFL experience. While Green Bay would certainly bring in competition for him, there’s a lot of risk that comes with relying on an inexperienced kicker or a veteran who has bounced around. Good kickers just don’t become available.

While discussing Crosby, Gutey did add that his leg strength was impacted by offseason knee surgery. Hopefully, this is something that improves, but Crosby was still fourth in kickoff return rate in 2021, according to PFF.

Crosby’s last contract had him earning $4.3 million per year. Justin Tucker is currently making the most at $6 million per year. The fifth highest-paid kicker, Graham Gano, is earning $4.66 million, and the 10th highest, Harrison Butker, $4.05 million.