Update: What should the Cowboys do about Brett Maher’s struggles?

Editor’s note: We’ve updated this post due to the fact that Kaare was traded right before our post went out. Sometimes the internet can get you!

One of the biggest problems surrounding the Dallas Cowboys these days involves a position many find to be trivial and insignificant - kicker.

Dallas was spoiled for a while by having one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, Dan Bailey, but they shocked the world a year ago by moving on from him in final 53-man roster decisions.

The Cowboys chose to roll the dice on then 28-year-old rookie Brett Maher who had an up and down (with notable highs) season in 2018. Maher made game-winners against both the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons which were impressive feats, but he also missed a critical kick on the road in Washington. Altogether he went 29 of 36 on field goal attempts last season (80.6%) and was perfect on all but one extra point attempts (it took Dan Bailey almost seven full years to miss an extra point).

Of last season’s 16 games, the Cowboys played in 13 that were decided by one score (they won nine of them). Points matter in the NFL (shocker!) and to continue to trust Brett Maher without properly exploring alternative options doesn’t feel like the best plan. Thankfully other options seem to have emerged.

There needs to be competition for Maher at this point in the preseason

When you talk about Brett Maher’s struggles many Cowboys fans respond by proposing bringing in veteran kicker Matt Bryant. While that is certainly one option, on Sunday morning ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that at least four teams (including two in the NFC North, one of the divisions that the Cowboys play in 2019) have called the Baltimore Ravens with interest in trading for Kaare Vedvik. That’s another route to explore.

Unfortunately (the reason we’ve had to edit this post) the Minnesota Vikings traded for Vedvik on Sunday afternoon. Ironically it’s Dan Bailey that will now be in competition with him as opposed to Brett Maher.

Brett Maher attempted four field goals during his first preseason game, however he wasn’t as successful as the newest Viking Vedvik. Maher only made three of his attempts (25, 40, and 31 yards), missing on a 35-yard try. 75% would generally be good at most things, but for a kicker many already feel is shaky it does little to boost confidence.

While the Cowboys could go the way of signing a free agent (like Matt Bryant) this option certainly exists as one that they could pursue. Stability at kicker is a luxury that few teams have, how should the Cowboys go about acquiring some?