The field of free-agent kickers has thinned, and the Packers are left to compete for a second-tier free agent or take their chances spending the offseason and training camp trying out untested young kickers, veteran discards and waiting for decent prospects to get cut by other teams during training camp. The top remaining kickers in free agency are Paul Edinger, who was with Minnesota last year, and Todd Peterson, who was with Atlanta. Peterson made 23 of 25 field goals last year and is a free agent, but his range is so limited, he probably isn’t a candidate for the Packers’ job. The Packers have interest in Edinger, who already has visited New England. The Packers have no kickers on their roster, but it appears they might sign former Dallas kicker Billy Cundiff in the near future so they have one for offseason workouts, which have begun.
In the meantime, Edinger remains a candidate, though New England also might try to sign him to replace Vinatieri. The 28-year-old Edinger hasn’t visited the Packers, but his agent, Ken Harris, said he’s been talking to the Packers about bringing his client in sometime after next week’s NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Fla. Those meetings run Sunday through Wednesday, and all of the Packers’ top officials, including Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy, will be attending. Edinger’s weakness is kickoffs, where he lacks both distance and hang time, though the Vikings finished in the middle of the league (16th) in average starting position for their opponents after kickoffs last season. “Somebody said he missed some kicks last year,” said Mike Stock, the Packers’ new special-teams coach. “But I know he made two (to beat the Packers). One was what, a (56)-yarder? Let me say this, that little son of gun can kick. I’m impressed with him. I worked him out when he was coming out of Michigan State. I was worried about his kickoffs, and that’s always going to be a problem with him because he doesn’t kick it quite as deep and he doesn’t get all the hang time that you’d like to have. But he’s got a good leg and he makes a lot of field goals.”
Even if they sign Cundiff, though, the Packers surely will bring in competition and also keep their eyes on the waiver wire all offseason and throughout training camp. Earlier in the offseason, Stock scouted NFL Europe training camp in Florida and will monitor several kickers’ performances in that league, including Oakland’s David Kimball, whose only chance of winning a roster spot with the Raiders is if Sebastian Janikowski gets injured. This year’s rookie class doesn’t have any stud prospects — there might not be a draftable kicker in the group — though there’s no knowing whether someone might emerge in an NFL camp. Southwest Missouri State’s Jon Scifres, whose brother, Mike, is San Diego’s punter, is perhaps the best prospect and might be a second-day draft pick. Ohio State’s Josh Huston, Memphis’ Stephen Gostkowski and Virginia’s Connor Hughes are the other top prospects.