Cowboys Kicker: Sign Gould or Trust Tristan?

The Dallas Cowboys appear to be in the market for a new kicker as they head into the 2023 NFL season. 

As CowboysSI.com recently reported, Dallas' special-teams coordinator John Fassel has indicated that the team is considering "anyone else on earth" to fill the role.

As such, it may not be a stretch of the imagination to see names such as Ray Finkle, Nigel Gruff or Lucy Draper on the list of potential Cowboys kickers for 2023. 

Putting levity aside, Dallas may find a case to be made for the lone kicker under currently under contract, Tristan Vizcaino. 

Vizcaino entered the NFL in 2018 as an undrafted rookie free agent from Washington. Since then, he has spent time with eight teams, primarily as a member of their respective practice squads. Vizcaino suited up for one game with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, and appeared in six games for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. He connected on six of his seven field goal attempts with the Bolts, as well as 10 of 15 extra points and one 32-year-punt.  

Vizcaino signed with the New England Patriots in June 2022. However, he was cut at the end of training camp. Through the first two months of the season, he spent time on-and-off of the team’s practice squad. After his second release in early November, Vizcaino was signed to the Arizona Cardinals 53-man roster on Nov. 12. He kicked two field goals in the Cardinals’ Week 10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams before being released on Nov. 15. 

Overall, Vizcaino has played in 10 NFL games and is 11-of-12 on field goal attempts and 15-of-20 on extra points in games with the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers and Cardinals.

In addition to the 49ers, Chargers and Cardinals, Vizcaino has also seen practice squad action with the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills. 

Vizcaino's second tour of duty in Dallas began in January, stemming from the playoff kicking woes of 2022 starter Brett Maher. Though he connected on 90.6% of his field goals, as well as 50 of 53 on extra points during the regular season, Maher seems to have earned his ticket out of town with his well-documented postseason struggles. 

Fassel himself revealed interest in veterans Robbie Gould, Mason Crosby and Ryan Succop. 

While each of the aforementioned vets may have more impressive resumes, Vizcaino may offer Dallas with similar prowess, at a fraction of the cost. Still, he has yet to attempt a pro-level field goal from 50 or greater yards. Additionally, his five extra-point missed attempts through the first seven weeks in 2021 with the Chargers makes him a liability. In the final analysis, it appears to be a risk that a top-level contender such as the Cowboys cannot afford. 

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