New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein has endured a poor start to the 2024 season. Zuerlein has made only 8-of-12 field goal attempts (66.7%), with three of his four misses being go-ahead attempts in the second half.
With the 36-year-old in dire straits, the Jets are exploring backup plans at the position. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Jets worked out three free agent kickers on Wednesday: Matt Coghlin, Riley Patterson, and Cade York.
Coghlin spent the last two seasons kicking in the UFL, establishing himself as one of the league’s top kickers. He made 34-of-36 field goal attempts (94.4%), including 6-of-7 from 50+ yards with a long of 57.
Patterson has played 39 NFL regular season games for the Lions, Jaguars, and Browns, making 59-of-67 field goal attempts (88.1%) and 93-of-97 extra point attempts (95.9%). He is very consistent under 50 yards (91.8% for career), but he lacks leg strength, going just 3-of-6 from 50+ yards with a career long of 53.
Despite his solid resume in the regular season, Patterson is coming off a 2024 preseason in which he made only 2-of-5 field goal attempts, causing him to be released by the Washington Commanders. All three of his misses were from under 50 yards.
York has played 18 NFL regular season games, 17 of those coming in 2022 for the Browns and one coming in this year’s season opener for the Commanders. He owns a career field goal percentage of just 70.6%, making 24 of his 34 attempts. York is wildly unreliable from inside of 50 yards, making a measly 76.9% of his attempts. He has even missed three career kicks from under 40 yards.
The Commanders traded a conditional seventh-round pick to acquire York from the Browns after parting ways with Patterson. York missed both of his field goal attempts in the season opener, leading to his immediate release after the game.
Out of these options, color me the most intrigued in Coghlin. His UFL resume is excellent. It is unknown whether he could translate that success to the increased pressure of the NFL, but we’re not talking about a quarterback or left tackle here. Kicking in the UFL is exactly the same as kicking in the NFL.
Patterson is interesting due to his highly reliable career resume from under 50 yards, but it’s impossible to know whether he is over his yips from the 2024 preseason until he plays in an actual game, making him too risky for the Jets to roll the dice on. York is too ineffective to be considered a potential upgrade over Zuerlein.
It remains to be seen whether the Jets will choose to sign any of these players.
