Over the next several weeks, I will analyze each of the Packers’ unrestricted free agents by revisiting their 2021 seasons, assessing why they should or should not be re-signed, projecting possible contract terms, and making a prediction on whether or not the player will return in 2022.
Next up in the series, Corey Bojorquez came to Green Bay just before the start of the season. He replaced JK Scott and was named a Pro Bowl alternate. Will he be rewarded with a new deal that keeps him kicking for the Packers moving forward?
Season In Review
The Packers acquired Bojorquez from the Rams for a sixth-round draft pick at the end of training camp, and he was arguably the league’s best punter after 11 weeks. The lefty’s net average of 44.1 was nearly three yards better than the franchise record set by one-and-done Justin Vogel in 2017. Unfortunately, Bojorquez’s numbers went down along with the temperatures. He finished the season with a pedestrian net average of 40.2. Conversely, his holding seemed to improve in December and January. That’s something he’ll need to keep working on if he wants to find stability in the NFL.
Why Packers Should Re-sign Him
The ball explodes off Bojorquez’ foot, and when he’s going well, he’s a real weapon. That’s not something said very often about punters. The 25-year-old from New Mexico had 11 games where his average hang-time was over 4.30 seconds. Bojorquez finished a respectable 19th in percentage of punts returned, and he had only four touchbacks. Also, general manager Brian Gutekunst would probably like to get more than one season in exchange for that sixth-round pick.
Why Packers Should Let Him Walk
The final seven games are going to be hard to overlook, and while the blocked punt against the 49ers in the playoffs wasn’t Bojorquez’ fault, it put an exclamation point on his late-season struggles. His net average dropped 11 yards after Thanksgiving, and while those numbers were skewed by horrendous coverage against the Bears in Week 14, there were too many times when he failed to deliver in the clutch. And while his holding did get better, he’ll never be as good as Scott.
What A Contract Might Look Like
$8.6 million/3 years ($2.7M guaranteed)
Prediction
Bojorquez will have suitors in free agency, but I don’t expect the Packers to be one of them. While his leg talent is undeniable, the late-season swoon and the shaky holding are problematic. It’s probably why Buffalo made no effort to re-sign him after the 2020 season. New special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia may also prefer to bring in his own punter.
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