The Packers have been engaged in “regular talks” with agent Mike McCartney, the rep for Mason Crosby, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, who reports that the team expects to get a deal done with its kicker without using the franchise tag.
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Crosby, 31, has been kicking for the Packers since the 2007 season, making 79.7% of hie field goals over the course of those nine seasons. He has been even better in recent years, making at least 85% of his kicks in three of his last five seasons. In 2015, he converted 24 of 28 field goal tries (85.7%), and didn’t miss any longer extra-point attempts.
The Packers don’t have any position players who look like viable candidates for the franchise or transition tag, so it makes sense that Crosby would be the only real option. If Green Bay did franchise him, it would probably cost the team in excess of $4.5MM for 2016 — a high price for a kicker, but not exorbitant for a one-year deal.
Based on Demovsky’s report, though, it sounds as if the Packers are optimistic they’ll work out a longer-term agreement with Crosby. If they get something done, the per-year salary will likely be more modest, but the total guarantee could match or exceed that $4.5MM+ franchise-tag amount.
In other Packers news, Demovsky writes that Brian Murphy, B.J. Raji‘s agent, said he met with Packers chief negotiator Russ Ball this week about a new deal for his client — nothing is imminent at this point, but there’s mutual interest between the two sides.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.