The Cowboys rejected a trade with the Jaguars for the kicker

So far this offseason, the Cowboys have filled most of their roster gaps. However, there is still a latent concern: the kicker position. With spring training nearly over and camp on the horizon, Tristan Vizcaino remains the lone kicker in Dallas. And while the team plans to bring competition to the position, it seems like it’s in no rush.

The Cowboys even had the luxury (so to speak) of turning down an offer for a young kicker.

According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Jaguars contacted the Cowboys to offer kicker Riley Patterson via trade. Let’s remember that Jacksonville dispensed with the young kicker after signing Brandon McManus on May 25, who was released by the Broncos two days earlier. The Cowboys rejected the offer, and Patterson was traded to the Lions for a 7th round pick in the next draft.

Patterson, 23, arrived in the NFL after not being drafted in the 2021 Draft. That year he would arrive at the Lions in the middle of the season where he left a good performance in seven games: 92.9% hits in field goals and 100 % in extra point attempts. However, Detroit would cut the Memphis product in the final roster cuts after the 2022 preseason. And, immediately, the Jaguars took over the young specialist.

In Jacksonville, Patterson delivered an adequate performance as a starting kicker in 2022. In 17 regular-season games, he was 30-of-35 field goals (85.7%) and 36-of-37 extra points (97.3%). Likewise, Patterson was key in the streak that led Jacksonville to the playoffs. Besides, his 36-yard field goal sealed the Jags’ historic comeback over the Chargers in the wild-card round.

Despite this, the Jaguars did not hesitate to part with Patterson after receiving interest from Brandon McManus. And while the Cowboys were able to seize the opportunity to get him, the kicker ended up going back to the Lions.

Looking at the situation, it’s surprising that Dallas didn’t agree to the Patterson trade. He is a young kicker, with good effectiveness and who already has experience in the playoffs (100% effectiveness in extra points and field goals in 2022). Besides, his salary doesn’t exceed a million dollars. However, the Cowboys may have wanted a bit more leeway than immediately trading a seventh-round pick.

How is the search for the Cowboys going?

Either way, the Cowboys’ seeming passivity in their search for kickers is hopeless. Admittedly, the team didn’t even have a chance to go for Brandon McManus, who already had the Jaguars in his sights. However, the cowboy team missed out on Patterson.

Besides, it doesn’t help to see several veterans still available in free agency: Robbie Gould (former 49ers), Mason Crosby (former Packers), Ryan Succop (former Buccaneers), Randy Bullock (former Titans) and Brett Maher, among others.

But let’s look at one detail: other teams that need a kicker aren’t making important moves either.

The Broncos, Buccaneers and Titans, like the Cowboys, are looking for a new kicker. Still, it’s surprising that none of them have added one of the veterans available in free agency. Denver seemed to be the first to move, this after calling Brett Maher for tests. However, the team signed Elliott Fry, and aims to add competition during training camp.

Going back to the Cowboys, many expected the team to take one of the aforementioned available veterans. Or even, that they chose to bring Brett Maher back. These expectations were fueled by John Fassel, special teams coordinator, who pretty much ensured that all options were on the table. And those options included Gould, Crosby, Succop and the possible return of Maher.

However, three weeks after Fassel’s words, everything remains the same in Dallas. And the focus seems to stay the same too. This was revealed by Will McClay, the Cowboys’ vice president of player personnel, in recent statements.

“We are looking in other leagues”McClay said last Tuesday. “We’re looking for guys who are available, or who can come via trade. It’s a mix of all that. When the time comes, we will find the right kicker to add to the competition.”

With that reference to “other leagues,” it’s clear that the Cowboys are extending their search to the XFL and USFL. However, after the end of the XFL season, no kicker from that league has made it to the NFL even for tryouts. Therefore, there are those who point out that Dallas could have its sights on some prominent kickers in the USFL such as Luis Aguilar and Matt Coghlin.

While the search continues, Tristan Vizcaíno has been “under probation” during the OTAs in Dallas. Last Thursday, in a practice open to the press, the former Chargers hit 6 of his 8 attempts. His misses, it is worth mentioning, were from distances of 44 and 55 yards. And this, of course, is not convincing.

For now, everything seems to indicate that Dallas will add competition to the position just before training camp. This wouldn’t be surprising, considering the team did the same thing last year. However, as we mentioned earlier, there are several eye-catching options in free agency this year. Therefore, it would be best for the Cowboys to go for one of them before another franchise does.


2023-06-04 17:08:40
#Cowboys #rejected #trade #Jaguars #kicker

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