Jets Firmly Put $8.4 Million Starter on Notice After Signing 24-Year-Old
New York Jets starting placekicker Greg Zuerlein’s job is very much in jeopardy this offseason.
Following the 2025 NFL draft, the Jets signed former Ole Miss kicker Caden Davis as an undrafted free agent.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic said it appears that “[Aaron] Glenn and special teams coordinator Chris Banjo will be putting forth a legitimate kicking competition heading into the summer, with Davis pushing veterans Greg Zuerlein and Anders Carlson.”
Zuerlein has one year left on his $8.4 million contract. That raise made Zuerlein the highest-paid kicker in Jets franchise history.
Davis Is Serious Competition for Zuerlein This Summer
Dane Brugler ranked Davis higher than Arizona kicker Tyler Loop in “The Beast.” That is notable because Loop was selected with the No. 186 overall pick in the sixth round by the Baltimore Ravens.
“Davis really only had two years of college kicking game experience, barely playing for three years at Texas A&M before transferring. At Ole Miss, he converted 100 of 102 extra points and 42 of 52 field goals, including 3 of 8 from 50-plus and 13 of 17 from 40-plus,” Rosenblatt explained.
Jim Nagy, the former executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, said back on November 9, 2024, that Davis “is [the] best kickoff guy in this year’s draft (by [a] wide margin). KO hang-times in 4.10-4.20 range, which is insane. NFL ST coordinators who want automatic touchbacks will love this guy. Hit [a] 57-yard FG earlier this year and [an] impressive 53-yarder today in sloppy conditions.”
