FRISCO, Texas – The Cowboys released kicker Greg Zuerlein as they continue to create cap space before the start of free agency and the new league year next Wednesday.
The move saves $2.25 million in cap space with roughly $300,000 in dead money.
Zuerlein signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract before the 2020 season and met with Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel, who previously coached Zuerlein for eight seasons with the Rams. He made 82.9% of his field goal attempts both seasons with the Cowboys, going 63 of 76 overall and 5 of 14 from 50+ yards. He also missed nine extra points in two seasons, including a career-high six for him last year.
Before the playoffs in January, Fassel told reporters that Zuerlein’s inconsistencies were due in part to a lack of offseason training following back surgery. Zuerlein made his only field goal attempt in a first-round playoff loss to San Francisco, a 51-yard field goal.
So what’s next at kicker?
In February, the Cowboys signed former SMU kicker Chris Naggar to the Reserve/Future list. The Texas native led the American Athletic Conference in field goal percentage (81%) in 2020 and was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, given to the best kicker in the nation.
Given his lack of NFL experience (Naggar made his first and only field goal attempt during a brief stint with the Browns last season), it wouldn’t be surprising if the Cowboys looked to bring in a veteran for more competition.
