Cowboys should target accomplished kicker in free agency
The Cowboys fit what the standout free agent wants.
Throughout the regular season, it seemed as if the Dallas Cowboys had solved their need for a kicker. Brett Maher made 90.6% of his field goal attempts, a career-high for the 33-year-old.
But the playoffs changed the Cowboys' outlook at the position. Maher chaotically missed five extra points out of six attempts. In response to the clear sign of inconsistency from Maher, the Cowboys have suggested they're starting over at kicker.
Well, the NFL market offers quite the opportunity for an upgrade as one accomplished league veteran has his eyes set on free agency: Robbie Gould.
The standout kicker, who's been in the NFL since 2005, said earlier in the week that he doesn't plan on returning to San Francisco in 2023.
“I’m nowhere near retiring,” Gould said, via Matt Maiocco of NBCSportsBayArea.com. “I got a lot left to do from a career perspective — No. 1 being winning a Super Bowl. And, two, I’m pretty close to a lot of milestones I think would be pretty neat to be able to accomplish.”
It's certainly odd that Gould cites winning a Super Bowl as one of the biggest items on his to-do list while essentially ruling out a return to the 49ers. But his comments do suggest he'll aim to land in a contender.
The Cowboys fit that bill, even though they're fresh off of a disappointing playoff loss to Gould's former team. They're the third odds-on favorite in the NFC.
Throughout his 18-year career, Gould has made 86.5% of his 517 FG attempts. He's also made 97.5% of his extra-point attempts. He's a must-target free agent for any team in the kicker market.
The Cowboys signed Tristan Vizcaino in late February but the position remains a team need.
Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
