Kicker (Yes, Kicker) Should Be Green Bay's Biggest In-House Priority In Free Agency

The roller coaster ride of finding a competent kicker lasted over a year for the Green Bay Packers. After veteran Mason Crosby departed Wisconsin, plenty of fans assumed finding a replacement would be easy.

It wasn't. However, the Packers eventually found their answer in Brandon McManus. With his free agency looming, Green Bay must prioritize his return more than any of its other free agents.

At surface level, that may sound dramatic. Prioritizing your free-agent kicker more than your center, Josh Myers?

That's exactly how the Packers should view it.

Many want Myers back, there's no doubting that. His play in 2024 warrants plenty of praise after some up-and-down seasons prior.

However, the issue rests in the alternate options.

If Myers isn't back in Green Bay in 2025, the team has plenty of other avenues to explore currently on the roster.

Elgton Jenkins has played plenty of center before and could slide in from left guard. Given how tremendous Zach Tom is at right tackle, an unpopular decision would be moving him to center. However, Tom played a lot of center at Wake Forest and thrived. Right guard Sean Rhyan also has experience at center. So does 2024 fifth-round pick Jacob Monk.

The point is, it'd be great to get Myers back if the money makes sense. However, if that's not in the cards, Green Bay has plenty of in-house options to work with.

That's not the case at kicker, and the recent nightmares of trying to find Crosby's replacement put more urgency on re-signing McManus.

Green Bay thought they had the answer in Anders Carlson out of Auburn in 2023. Carlson lasted one year with the Packers, missing six field goals and a league-high five extra points.

Brian Gutekunst pivoted to Brayden Narveson for the start of the 2024 campaign after the Tennessee Titans released him. Narveson lasted six games, missed five field goals, and didn't even attempt a kick over 50 yards.

McManus fell into Green Bay's lap after the league sorted out his off-the-field issue, and he was sitting in free agency.

He became so automatic for the Packers that Matt LaFleur said at one point this season he doesn't even watch McManus sometimes because he's that confident the kicks are going in. It's a far cry from how everyone felt whenever Carlson or Narveson would jog onto the field. You couldn't even get up to refill your beverage when Carlson attempted an extra point. It turned into nightmarish appointment television. After all the gut-wrenching misses prior to McManus’ arrival, if ponying up a little more money is what it takes to keep him around, it's well worth it.

Green Bay would have lost to the Houston Texans 22-21 this year if McManus hadn't banged through a 45-yard field goal attempt as time expired. The Packers go to overtime against the Jacksonville Jaguars if McManus doesn't split the uprights on another game-winner as time expires.

If anyone proved finding a kicker is tricky, it's the Packers.

When a reporter

Daniel Whelan is set to return as the punter in 2025. Getting McManus back in the picture at kicker is the goal. Gutekunst again:

McManus went 20 for 21 on field goals with the Packers, didn't miss an extra point, and connected on all three field goal attempts of 50 yards or greater. He was as close to automatic as it gets.

He did miss what is considered a chip shot in today's NFL on a 38-yard attempt in the playoffs against Philadelphia. That miss didn't wash away an otherwise incredibly consistent and reliable season for the veteran.

Green Bay will be sorting through plenty on its agenda this offseason. It sounds insane to suggest that the biggest in-house free agent to take care of is McManus. However, given the razor-thin margins in NFL games and how critical it is to have a kicker you can trust, that's exactly how the Packers should view this offseason.

Getting McManus back is a necessity. If they can also re-ink Myers, it'd be the cherry on top.