The New York Jets have signed place kicker Greg Zuerlein of Lincoln, Nebraska to a one-year deal worth $2.75 million according to Connor Hughes of The Athletic on Saturday. However like all National Football League contracts, Zuerlein’s contract is not guaranteed, as he will battle Eddy Pineiro for the starting job according to Tyler Greenawalt of USA Today.
The Jets will be the third team Zuerlein has played for in the NFL. He has previously been with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams for eight seasons from 2012 to 2019, and then was with the Cowboys in 2020 and 2021.
This past season in Dallas, Zuerlein made 29 of 35 field goals for a field goal percentage of 82.9%. He also made 42 of 48 converts, and had 100 kickoffs for 6421 yards.
Zuerlein was actually cut by the Cowboys on March 11. The move was made so the Cowboys could free up some money when it came to cap space. The term “cap space” associated with the Dallas Cowboys, could be considered a bit of an oxymoron to some when you consider the fact that the franchise signed quarterback Dak Prescott to a whopping four-year deal worth $160 million in March of last year, and also has $30 million invested in running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Even though Zuerlein had a solid 2021 season, with a career-high 6421 kickoff yards, one must realize he did miss six converts, which could be a primary reason why he was cut by the Cowboys. In 2015, Zuerlein made a 61 yard field goal in a 21-18 St. Louis Rams loss to the Minnesota Vikings. It was the longest field goal in Zuerlein’s career, and the longest field goal in the NFL that season. When Zuerlein was named to the Pro Bowl while with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, he made 38 of 40 field goals.
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