It feels like Mason Crosby's era in Green Bay is over. On Monday, general manager Brian Gutekunst said during the owners meeting, in Phoenix, that "we're limited financially" when asked if the Packers would re-sign the veteran kicker. Especially in a time where the team is transitioning from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love, it does make sense to go younger and cheaper elsewhere too. So, the Packers will enter the offseason program looking for a new kicker. However, there is already one player on the roster at the position: Parker White.
The 6-4, 207 lbs kicker is not exactly a rookie, and that's why the Packers were able to sign him before the draft. He played for South Carolina from 2017 to 2021, and ended up being undrafted last year. During the season, White didn't sign with anybody and had just one workout: with the Packers. He hit all eight of his field goal attempts and even hit a 60-yard kick in warmups. Green Bay didn't sign him right away, but took notes. Right after the season, the Packers called him and offered a futures deal.
"It's obviously been a dream of mine to play in the NFL," White said after signing with the Packers. "I'm a self-motivator. I've had that goal in mind of making it to the league and I wasn't going to let anything stop me. I was just continuing to work every day."
Being a specialist in the NFL is hard. There are just 32 roster spots around the league for kickers — some more during preseason, and now teams are using a practice squad spot, but there rarely are any guarantees. That's why Parker decided to open a trucking firm in South Carolina. He earned some money, and still had time to prepare for any potential opportunity.
"I've been trying to get my leg stronger to be able to handle the wind up there and the cold and have more leg strength so I can be better-suited to do kickoffs and field goals."
In his last season in college, at South Carolina, White made 16 of 17 field goals and was named second-team All-SEC. Throughout a solid career, he became South Carolina's all-time leading scorer, with 368 career points, and converted six fourth-quarter or overtime game-winning field goals.
Parker White knows his status as the only kicker on the Packers 90-man roster is temporary. During or after the draft, Green Bay will eventually add competition. But, for White, that's part of a process that includes competing with kickers around the league.
"I know they're going to sign somebody at some point. It's going to be a competition for it and I'm going to have to compete not only against him but against myself to continue to improve. I'm going to keep working every day and make sure that I'm the one kicking field goals this year because that's my goal.”
If Parker White makes the 53-man roster, he'll have a $ 750k salary for the 2023 season — he's under contract through 2024. Right now, that's what the Packers need: an inexpensive player who can produce and generate surplus value. Get ready for a kicking competition in Green Bay, and Parker White will be a part of it.
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