Cowboys' Long-Term Solution at Kicker Will Be in AT&T Stadium Soon

Unfortunately for Dallas, Jerry Jones, he will be wearing an Arkansas Razorbacks uniform for at least another year

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Aug 9, 2023 5:45 AM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – When it got late in the NFL draft last season, a lot of people thought the Dallas Cowboys would use a pick on a kicker to shore up a position of need. In the end, the Jones family chose not to pull the trigger. While the move threw off a lot of DFW media and has put the organization in the position to have to go shopping for a free agent kicker even before the first preseason game, it may have been because Dallas is looking to take a shot at its kicker of the future in the upcoming draft.

For the past two seasons, the Jones' have had plenty of opportunity to watch one of college football's best kickers in the Razorbacks' Cam Little. After watching Tristan Vizcaino and Brandon Aubrey go a combined 5-of-11 after a difficult week of camp, it must have been hard knowing he's not an option yet. Having seen enough, the Cowboys took the lesser of two evils and kept Aubrey, a kicker whose only professional experience is kicking in USFL games. It must be hard for organizational leaders to return to their hotel rooms in Oxnard, Calif. and be greeted with footage of Little doing things like this.

Little is good enough right now to win the Cowboys' job, but the Jones family will have to wait at least one more year while the best kicker in a long time at their alma mater chases his goal of breaking the 90% mark in field goals. To be fair, Little kicked it true 63 out of 66 times the ball touched his foot.

Over two seasons, he's only missed 1-of-24 field goal attempts inside the 40-yard line and is 3-of-6 from 50+. The continuous comments regarding players being stronger this year have almost become cliche'. However, what tiny bit has trickled out of camp indicates it might be true for Little also. His power seems to have increased.

If Little can pull off the kind of season he has in mind, it will likely be the last season fans can look forward to him kicking things that shouldn't be kicked around in those Doublebee's commercials as a Razorback. If that's the case, odds are low the Cowboys will pass on another opportunity to draft a high level kicker, especially one they know so well personally.

But, until then, Dallas will have to make due. The only kicking Little will be doing in AT&T Stadium will be against Texas A&M. That, of course, after the events of last season, involves a totally separate goal that must be conquered before Sundays become part of the discussion.