Packers sign third kicker on roster: What will happen to Mason Crosby?

The Green Bay Packers signed free agent kicker Dominik Eberle on Tuesday, giving them three on the roster. Does this mean the end for Mason Crosby?

The Green Bay Packers are going to have to make some big decisions this offseason, as they are $48 million over the salary cap threshold for the 2022 season. They still have to wait on an answer from quarterback Aaron Rodgers regarding if he is staying with the team or going elsewhere or retiring, and star wide receiver Davante Adams is set to hit the open market. With that, some difficult decisions may have to be made, and it may very well involve kicker Mason Crosby.

On Tuesday, Feb. 22, the Packers announced that they have signed kicker Dominik Eberle, bringing the team’s total on the depth chart to three. The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman hints that this could be a sign that the team is going to move on from Crosby, instead of having Eberle compete with J.J. Molson.

Packers latest kicker signing may spell the end of Mason Crosby’s tenure in Green Bay

Entering the 2022 league year, Crosby accounts for $4.7 million in cap space. By releasing him prior to June 1, they’d free up $2.4 million in cap space. But if they wait until after June 1, they would free up $3.1 million in space in 2022, per Spotrac.

Crosby is coming off a bad season, where he posted a field goal percentage of 73.5, his lowest recorded since the 2012 (63.6). Crosby made 9-of-13 attempts from the 30-39 yard range and 4-of-8 field goals in the 40-49 range.

Eberle was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Utah State by the Las Vegas Raiders back in 2020. Coincidentally, his special teams coordinator at the time was Rich Bisaccia, who currently holds that very position in Green Bay. Eberle also spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans.

In his lone appearance in the NFL, Eberle made two-of-three field goal attempts, including one from 51-yards, and made all five extra-point attempts in the Texans’ 41-29 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16.

It will be interesting to see if the signing of Eberle ultimately spells the end of Crosby’s 15-year tenure with the Packers.