3 Packers on Thin Ice as Free Agency Gets Underway
3. Anders Carlson
Speaking of 2023 draft picks who are likely to face competition this offseason, kicker Anders Carlson is in choppy water following his performance as a rookie.
Green Bay selected Carlson hoping he'd take the starting job and run with it following Mason Crosby's departure. Instead, the Auburn product stumbled through his first year in the NFL, missing six field goals (on 33 attempts) and five point-after tries (on 39 attempts).
Even worse, Carlson failed to step up in the playoffs. He missed another PAT in the Wild Card win over Dallas, then had a terrible shank on a 41-yard FG against San Francisco that cost the Packers a potential upset victory.
Your hand-picked kicker playing a role in a postseason run ending is not what any front office wants to see. Considering this wasn't just a random occurrence but continuation of a bad trend, Green Bay must do something to address this position.
Gutekunst knows that too, and he sent a clear message to Carlson about his future with the team at the combine. Signing an experienced leg in free agency would hammer the point that Carlson has to shape up or ship out.
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