The Green Bay Packers Will Be Looking For Their Next Kicker

This is the ninth and final part in a series previewing the NFL Draft and examining the Green Bay Packers’ needs at each position.

Today: Special teams

Part 1: Quarterbacks

Part 2: Wide receivers

Part 3: Tight ends

Part 4: Running backs

Part 5: Offensive line

Part 6: Defensive line

Part 7: Linebackers

Part 8: Secondary

Few teams across the National Football League have had greater consistency at the place kicker position than the Green Bay Packers the last 34 years.

Chris Jacke handled the kicking duties from 1989-96, made 76.2% of his field goals and left as the second-leading scorer in team history with 820 points.

Ryan Longwell took over from 1997-2005 and raised the bar a notch. Longwell made 81.6% of his field goals, connected on more than 80.0% of his kicks in seven of his nine seasons, and left as the Packers’ all-time leading scorer with 1,054 points.

And since 2007, Mason Crosby has been a model of consistency. Crosby has obliterated the franchise’s all-time scoring record with 1,918 points. He’s made 81.4% of his field goals and he’s eclipsed the 80.0% mark in nine of his 16 seasons.

By the looks of it, though, the Crosby-era is over and the Packers will try finding their next kicker in this weekend’s NFL Draft.

Crosby just completed a three-year, $12.9 million contract. His deal before that was a four-year, $16.1 million contract.

Crosby, who turns 39 in September, probably isn’t interested in playing for dramatically less money than his last two contracts paid. On the flip side, the Packers are in a transition period moving from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love at quarterback, and aren’t willing to spend the type of money on a kicker that they have in past seasons.

So after 16 largely reliable seasons, Crosby’s days in Green Bay are likely over.

“We’ll never close the door,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Crosby. “We’ll kind of see where that goes. Mason is the all-time leading scorer in this franchise’s history, he had a good year this past year. Again we’re limited a little bit financially. But we’d never say never.”

But they’re also not rolling out the red carpet and begging Crosby to return.

Crosby missed most of training camp last year following right knee surgery. He proceeded to have a Crosby-like season, though, making 25-of-29 field goals (86.2%) and going 18-of-18 inside 40 yards.

Crosby made game-winning field goals against both Dallas and New England. And for the ninth time in 12 years, he made at least 80.0% of his fields goals.

“He’s been a great compass as to how we do some things in our stadium and how we play with some of the teams in our division,” Packers special teams coach Rich Bisaccia said of Crosby. “And the way in which he carries himself in the meetings, he’s a great leader for us.

“He’s been through a lot of football. I think he’s done a great job of echoing what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to build our culture a little bit within the special teams units.”

Crosby has jumped to No. 11 on the NFL’s all-time leading scorer list. And if he matches his career average of 120.0 points per year for two more seasons, he’d jump into fourth place all-time.

While Gutekunst wouldn’t close the door on Crosby’s return, chances are he’ll turn to the draft to find Green Bay’s next kicker.

The Packers have drafted just three kickers since 1989, and have had remarkable luck with two of them.

Jacke was a sixth round pick in 1989 and is in the Packers’ Hall of Fame today.

Green Bay selected Penn State’s Brett Conway in the third round of the 1997 draft. Conway was sidelined by a leg injury during training camp that year, Longwell stepped in and held the job the next nine seasons.

Then in 2007, the Packers used a seventh round draft pick on Crosby, who’s arguably the finest kicker in franchise history.

Now, it could be time for Gutekunst to find Green Bay’s next kicker.

It’s a solid year, led by Michigan’s Jake Moody, Maryland’s Chad Ryland and Georgia’s Jack Podlesny.

The Packers have 11 draft picks including two in the fifth round and four in the seventh. That number could rise, too, if Rodgers is traded before draft night.

There have been nine kickers chosen in the last five drafts (1.8 per season). Cleveland’s Cade York was the highest selected kicker in that time, going in Round 4 of 2022. Five kickers went in the fifth round, one was drafted in the sixth and two went in the seventh.

If Gutekunst does go young, he knows kicking at Lambeau Field — where the weather is extremely unpredictable — is a tough job.

“I mean any new kicker, that’s going to be tough for those guys,” Gutekunst said. “That takes time.”

Punter Pat O’Donnell ranked 31^st in net yardage (38.9) and 29^th in gross (44.5) last season. But O’Donnell is operating on a financially friendly two-year, $4 million deal and will likely return.

As for the kicking position, Gutekunst has remained coy.

“We’ll see, right?” Gutekunst said. “That’s kind of to be determined.”

Chances are, though, it’s already been determined.

And the Packers will be on the hunt for a new kicker on draft weekend.

KICKERS RANKINGS

1. Jake Moody, Michigan

6-1, 210

The lowdown: Two year starter who made 52 of 60 field goals in that time (86.7%). … Made all 116 extra points the last two seasons. … Went 38-of-39 on kicks inside 40 yards the last two years. … Made 59-yard field goal against TCU in national semifinals.

Moody says: “Each team has one guy and there’s only 32 teams, so you’ve got to be one of the best 32 in the world. I’m pretty hard on myself so I never really think I’m that good. I think that’s a good thing — it keeps me working harder and striving to be better. I never really thought I’d be where I’m at now.”

Projection: Fifth round

2. Chad Ryland, Maryland

5-11, 191

The lowdown: Spent four years at Eastern Michigan, then transferred to Maryland for his final season. … Made 82.6% of his fields goals at Maryland (19-of-23) and 75.7% at EMU (56-of-74). … Made 9-of-15 field goals from 50 yards and beyond (60.0%) during his five-year career. … Quality hang time on kickoffs.

Ryland says: “At the end of the day, it’s as simple as going out there and doing your job. That’s my mentality day in and day out. That looks like a variety of different things both on and off the field. It’s how I’m eating, sleeping and training. Everything that I do during the week, even in the offseason, is about building up to those moments when my number gets called. At the end of the day, you default to your training during those high-pressure situations.”

Projection: Sixth round

3. Jack Podlesny, Georgia

6-0, 194

The lowdown: Three-year starter for the Bulldogs who made 61 of 74 field goals (82.4%) and 182 of 184 extra points (98.9%). … Went just 3-of-8 on field goals beyond 40 yards (37.5%) in 2022. … Missed two kicks against Ohio State in last year’s CFP semifinals. … Solid hang time and touchback numbers on kickoffs.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart on Podlesny: “It is a luxury to have him. He’s been Mr. Consistency since he’s been here, and he’s mentally wired the right way and does a tremendous job for our program.”

Projection: Seventh round/free agent

4. Christopher Dunn, North Carolina State

5-8, 175

The lowdown: Five-year kicker for the Wolfpack who made impressive 28-of-29 field goals in 2022 (96.6%). … Finished college career making 97-of-115 field goals (84.3%). … Went just 4-of-10 on field goals beyond 50 yards (40.0%). … Might not have the leg strength to handle kickoff duties.

Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren on Dunn: “He’s Mr. Reliable. I think people take things for granted that they have, and I don’t take Chris for granted. It’s a luxury to have somebody like that. We’ve all seen what happens when you don’t.”

Projection: Seventh round/free agent

5. B.T Potter, Clemson

5-10, 185

The lowdown: Handled the Tigers’ kicking duties for four seasons, making 72-of-96 field goals (75.0%). … Made remarkable 227 of 228 extra points at Clemson (99.6%). … Was solid from beyond 50 yards, making 9-of-13 field goals (69.2%). … Struggled between 40-49 yards, making just 25-of-35 field goals (71.4%).

Potter says: “I would love to be drafted. I think I have a chance, but I would just be happy to be on a team. I will go in there and compete with anybody and just do my best.”

Projection: Seventh round/free agent

PUNTER RANKINGS

1. Bryce Baringer, Michigan State

6-2, 216

The lowdown: Walked on at MSU in 2018, had subpar season (32.4 average) and lost his walk-on spot. … Served as team photographer in 2019, reclaimed the punting job in 2020, and improved his average to 43.6. … Continued his upward trend, averaging 48.4 yards per punt in 2021 and leading the nation with 49.0 average in 2022. … Power punter who outkicks his coverage at times and must improve hang time.

Baringer says: “The hardest part is getting in (to the NFL). You have to be one of the 32 best at your job in the whole world and there’s plenty of other guys around that are trying to get into that spot. So, just being persistent in your work, finding your routines, sticking to those routines and just being consistent is probably my biggest takeaway from that.”

Projection: Sixth round

2. Brad Robbins, Michigan

6-1, 199

The lowdown: Missed two college seasons with a back injury and will turn 25 in October. … Shined in 2017 as a true freshman, missed the next two seasons with injury, then reclaimed the job his final three years at Michigan. … Finesse punter who excels with hang time and pinning foes inside their own 20. … Didn’t have a touchback in 2022. … Inconsistent driving the ball when team needs a power punt.

Robbins says: “When you have a guy, I guess like myself, who can hang the ball up there, have high hang time, you benefit more from pro-style and letting your fast guys get down there.”

Projection: Sixth round

3. Adam Korsak, Rutgers

6-1, 187

The lowdown: Ray Guy winner as nation’s top punter in 2022. … Was an Aussie-style punter at Rutgers and is now transitioning to a pro-style punter. … Home town is Melbourne, Australia. … Excels on pooch punts and landed 44% of his career punts inside the 20-yard line. … Must improve his hang time.

Korsak, on adjusting his drop: “It’s such a difference because the drop is so different. It’s a pro-style drop where you’re from your hip compared to the Australian drop where you’re dropping lower, kind of around your knees.”

Projection: Seventh round/free agent

4. Michael Turk, Oklahoma

6-0, 234

The lowdown: Given the opportunity to return to college due to an NCAA waiver due to COVID-19. He transferred from Arizona State to OU, where he spent the final two seasons of his college career. … Attended the 2020 combine after his ASU career where he posted a record 25 reps of 225 pounds during bench press testing, which was a high among punters. … Nephew of 19-yard NFL standout Matt Turk. … Tremendous power and had a punt of at least 50 yards in 11 of 13 games last season. … Lacks touch on pooch punts and often outkicks coverage.

Turk says: “I thought I was done with college football. That was obviously quite the experience. But the Lord had other plans. And it seems like a long time ago. I feel like I’ve grown a lot since then and I’m thankful to have gotten this opportunity back to get better and grow as a man.”

Projection: Seventh round/free agent

5. Paxton Brooks, Tennessee

6-6, 201

The lowdown: Spent five seasons at Tennessee and served as UT’s starting punter and kickoff specialist … Selected as a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy in 2022 … Averaged 42.3 yards per punt, which ranked eighth all-time in UT history … Averaged 60.5 yards per kickoff … 126 of his 252 kickoffs went for touchbacks (50.0%)

Brooks says: “I feel like my strengths are my directional punting and ability to hit a consistent ball on the sideline to outside the numbers for minimal return. I think that’s something that they’ve seen a little bit at Tennessee, but I think they’re excited to be able to see what I can do tomorrow and kind of go from there. I think that they can see me being an asset because of a lot of those reasons.”

Projection: Seventh round/free agent