In wake of Chandler Catanzaro’s retirement, the Jets are exploring every possible option to address their kicking situation.
According to The Athletic’s Connor Hughes, the Jets have expressed interest in trading for Ravens’ backup kicker Kaare Vedvik, who went 4-4 on field goals in Baltimore’s preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
New York signed Taylor Bertolet after Catanzaro retired, but Vedvik has the potential to become a steady presence at kicker for the Jets if Joe Douglas can work out a deal with the Ravens for the second time this offseason. In 2018, Vedvik was viewed as a potential trade option for teams in need of a kicker after an impressive preseason. However, a head injury suffered in an assault landed him on season-ending injured reserve. Healthy and kicking well again, Baltimore will likely trade Vedvik before the start of the regular season.
Landing Vedvik will not be easy for the Jets, though. At least three other teams have expressed interest in trading for the Marshall product according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. As the offseason progresses, that number could grow as teams continue to evaluate their own kicking situation.
Kickers have the ability to make or break a game in the NFL. With Jason Myers leaving in free agency and Catanzaro abruptly retiring, the Jets need to find a kicker they can rely on before the regular season begins. Bertolet was solid in preseason, but doesn’t have a track record of consistency behind him.
If all goes well and Douglas can pull off another trade with the Ravens, Vedvik could be the guy who solves New York’s kicking woes.
