The Minnesota Vikings need to find a more reliable kicker ASAP, and these are three good options to replace Daniel Carlson.
The Minnesota Vikings rallied from a 20-7 deficit to tie Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packer, and the two teams hit overtime at 29-29. Each kicker missed a field goal in the extra session, and Vikings kicker Daniel Carlson got a second chance from 35 yards out as overtime expired.
Carlson then missed his third field goal of the game, wide-right for the third time as well. The Vikings have legitimate Super Bowl expectations, and a rookie kicker choked away a road win over their chief division rival. Head coach Mike Zimmer surely won’t stand for that, and a tough conversation about a kicker general manager Rick Spielman decided to trade up for in April’s draft is looming.
Kickers miss kicks sometimes, and it’s worth noting Carlson’s two other missed field goals came from 48 and 49 yards out respectively. But missing a 35-yarder from between the hashes is inexcusable. Having someone with some experience in pressure situations, and kicking in tough road environments that aren’t in the SEC (Carlson went to school at Auburn), may have sent the Vikings home with a 2-0 record Sunday afternoon.
The Vikings can’t let any more wins this season rest on the foot and mind of an inexperienced kicker who can’t be relied on. With that in mind, these three kickers should be on the short list to replace Carlson.