Analysis: The Packers may have drafted their kicker of the future with one of several sixth-round picks on Saturday. Anders Carlson was a five-year starter at Auburn and ended his career there with a 71% (76/107) field goal percentage. Carlson is the younger brother of Daniel Carlson, now kicking for the Raiders.
Carlson was Dane Brugler’s third-ranked kicker and will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Mason Crosby who played an incredible 16 seasons for the Packers. Like many of the Packers’ picks this draft, Carlson’s best year was not 2022. In 2020, Carlson had a 91% FG percentage and missed just one XP, in 2021 he tore his ACL, and in 2022 his FG percentage was just 70.6% (on an admittedly small sample size). Carlson was the team’s kickoff specialist all three years.
Team Fit: Look for Carlson to start immediately, though the team will likely sign a UDFA to compete with him. Carlson may not have Crosby’s peak accuracy right away, but he should allow the team’s we-fense to plan on touchbacks on kickoffs.
NFL Player Comp – Daniel Carlson: Anders’ brother is a two-time all-pro and preceded his brother as the Auburn kicker. Daniel was drafted by the Vikings in 2018 and then cut after missing three field goals in a game against the Packers in his rookie season. The Raiders signed him later in the season and he has been one of the best kickers in the league since then. Daniel owns the record for most 50-yard field goals in a season (11).
Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan currently living in Utah. You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
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