The Green Bay Packers selected former Auburn kicker Anders Carlson (26) in the sixth round of … [+]
The Green Bay Packers are making a quarterback change for the first time in 15 years.
They’ll have the youngest wide receiver group in the National Football League and could lean heavily on a pair of rookie tight ends.
After having a veteran roster the last several years, the Packers figure to be one of the league’s youngest teams this fall. And that means several jobs will be wide open when training camp begins on July 26.
Forbes is examining several of the positional battles that await. Today we look at the place kicking job.
Kicker
Anders Carlson vs. Mason Crosby (and others)
The Packers used a sixth round draft pick on Carlson and are hoping he can adequately replace Mason Crosby, Green Bay’s all-time leading scorer.
Carlson will have a lot to prove in training camp, though, to show he’s ready for the rigors of the NFL.
Carlson, who’s already 25, spent six seasons at Auburn where he made 71.8% of his field goals (79 of 110). Carlson suffered a torn ACL late in the 2021 campaign, returned in 2022, then had his final season cut short by a shoulder injury.
Carlson was terrific from 40 yards and in, making 49 of 54 field goals (90.7%). Outside of 40, though, he was dreadful, making just 30-of-56 overall (53.6%).
Carlson was 25-of-39 between 40 and 49 yards (64.1%) and 5-of-17 beyond 50 yards (29.4%).
Carlson averaged 61.4 yards on 313 career kickoffs and had a touchback rate of 58.5%.
“Well, he’s had the ups and downs a little bit through college, but he’s been there six years, he stayed when he could’ve tried to come out,” Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said. “He’s had an ACL injury, he’s had a shoulder injury. I know a lot of people just look at stats, 71 percent coming out, but I look at really the makeup of the person.
“I think he’s a strong mental makeup person, I think he’s been his best regardless of the circumstance. He’s been in a lot of big games, he’s kicked in a lot of different situations in the SEC. He’s kicked in many bowl games. I love his body structure, the power that he has, the ability to get stronger and the ability to self-correct I think is a little bit of a family trait right now that we’re seeing from him. So we’re excited about where he’s going to go forward.”
Carlson’s older brother, Daniel, was a fifth round draft pick of Minnesota in 2018, but was released that same season. Daniel Carlson rebounded, though, and has made 107 of 115 field goals the last three years with Las Vegas (93.0%).
Bisaccia spent four years with Daniel Carlson in Oakland/Las Vegas and believes the younger Carlson has a chance to be a good one.
“Daniel and I at times would take some of Auburn’s tape and watch Anders when he was playing,” Bisaccia said. “We talked to him about some of the drills that we did, some of those things, so we’re familiar with Anders as well as the whole family, and we’re excited about working with him right now.”
If Carlson struggles in camp, the Packers could bring Crosby back for one more rodeo.
Crosby obliterated the franchise’s all-time scoring record with 1,918 points. He made 81.4% of his field goals and he eclipsed the 80.0% mark in nine of his 16 seasons.
Crosby missed most of training camp last year following right knee surgery. He then enjoyed a typical Crosby season, making 25-of-29 field goals (86.2%) and going 18-of-18 inside 40 yards.
If the Packers wanted to go in another direction, veterans Robbie Gould, Brett Maher and Randy Bullock are all street free agents.
“I learned a lot from Mason,” Bisaccia said. “I learned a lot about tempo. I learned a lot about rhythm. I learned a lot about ball strike, going all the way back to when I had him in the Senior Bowl in ’07.
“I think he came out of a difficult year (in 2021) and had a heck of a year last year. I still think there’s play in Mason and we’ll see what the future holds. But I know he’s excited for what’s next for him, in my conversations with him. I’m just fortunate to have a chance to be with him.”
Prediction
With Green Bay rebuilding, now seems to be the perfect time to transition from the 38-year-old Crosby to a younger kicker. So unless Carlson completely flops in training camp, the Packers are likely to weather the storm with him.
“I think with all players in the National Football League, they’re going to ride the rollercoaster at times, regardless of the position, Bisaccia said. “It just happens that the kicker is out there by himself, and they’re usually put in critical situations where you’re counting on them to come through.
“So I think we’re all prepared organizationally if Anders can perform like we think he can and can improve, I think we’re prepared organizationally as well as with a majority of the other draft picks to weather the storm to some degree positionally, and hopefully they can keep improving and get better with time.”
