Five Kickers the Packers Could Target
Last year, the Packers’ kicker situation was a significant source of frustration for both coaches and fans. Rookie Anders Carlson struggled with inconsistency, leading the NFL with 13 missed kicks and making the kicker position a notable weak spot. In response, the team brought in veteran Greg Joseph to strengthen the position. As the final roster cuts approach, the Packers now face one of the most crowded kicker rooms with no clear frontrunner from the competition. Training camp and preseason are the perfect opportunity for teams to narrow down the roster, but unfortunately, it seems the Packers have yet to find a clear starter among their kickers. Instead of resolving last year’s kicker issues, the current situation only creates uncertainty. Here are some options that the Packers could explore to answer the glaring kicker concerns.
Randy Bullock
Kicker Randy Bullock provides the best veteran option available on the waiver wire. His 12 years in the league speaks for itself, highlighted by an impressive 83.4% field goal percentage and 95.8% success rate on extra points. Over the years, he has dedicated his time to the Texans, Jets, Giants, Steelers, Bengals, and Titans. This past season, Giants kicker Graham Gano was placed on injured reserve, allowing Bullock to make his return to New York, where he converted five of six field goals, including a notable 56-yarder. He also made all 10 of his extra-point attempts. Packers fans may remember him sealing their embarrassing loss against Tommy DeVito and the Giants with a 37-yard field goal. At 34 years old, he may not be a long-term solution, but he could provide the accuracy and reliability the Packers need to complete their Super Bowl-caliber roster.
Austin Seibert
Jets kicker Austin Seibert is currently in New York competing with experienced Greg Zuerlein for the starting job. The veteran kicker has been one of the top kickers in the league, earning himself the names “Greg the Leg” and “Legatron.” Since Zuerlein is a lock at the kicker position, Seibert should be available for any teams looking for an answer at kicker. Head coach Robert Saleh had high praise for the fourth-year kicker saying Seibert is “better than a lot of kickers that are employed in the NFL right now.” Whether this includes three Packers employees with last names that rhyme with Tarlson, Roseph, and Pale, well, the jury is still out.
Since 2019, Seibert has made his fair share of rounds in the league. During his rookie season with Cleveland, he served as the team’s starter, completing 25/29 field goals and 30/35 extra points. While missing five extra points is not ideal, it is important to remember that his rookie year was in 2019 and he has since gained valuable experience. Over the past two seasons, he has been flawless on extra points, making all 13 attempts. This preseason, he has hit field goals from 24, 37, 38, 45, and 52 yards out. While it may not be enough to steal the starting spot from Zuerlein, it might be enough to garner serious interest from other teams in the league like the Packers.
Tanner Brown
Last week, Rams kicker Tanner Brown was cut after rookie Josh Karty won the starting spot. Brown’s college accuracy was impressive, with a 95.7% field goal completion rate in his final season. The 24-year-old kicker also proved reliable on extra points, never missing one in his last two college seasons. It’s worth noting, that he has less experience than both Carlson and Joseph in terms of NFL games with his total being a whopping zero games. Nevertheless, his demonstrated kicking talent in college could translate to the NFL, given the proper opportunity with the right team to showcase it.
Matthew Wright
Chris Boswell is the clear-cut starter for the Steelers, leaving Matthew Wright up for grabs after the final roster cuts. Boswell is Pittsburgh’s franchise kicker with a guaranteed spot, but that does not diminish Wright’s potential and talents. Despite Wright’s bouncing around the league over the past three years, he has maintained solid numbers, completing 85% of his field goals and 95% of his extra points. In the Pittsburgh preseason opener, Wright missed an extra point due to a high snap. While this is not an excuse, it’s important to consider the context. One preseason miss should not determine his value as a kicker that he has built over the past three years. The 28-year-old kicker may still be searching for the “Wright” home—see what I did there.
Brayden Narveson
Rookie kicker Brayden Narveson is making a name for himself this preseason as he competes against seasoned veteran Nick Folk. Entering his 17th season, Folk turns 40 in November, but his age does not change the fact that he led the NFL in field goal percentage last year. Folk’s experience, dependability, and consistency make him a lock for the Titans’ final roster, but this also opens up an opportunity for Narveson to secure a starting job elsewhere. Last weekend, Narveson completed three field goals in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks, including an impressive 59-yard kick and a 46-yard game-winner. The rookie has also showcased his strong leg throughout camp, making several field goals over 50 yards. While Narveson’s high potential may not be enough for the Titans to part ways with the NFL’s most accurate kicker last season, it could well earn him a spot on another team.
This Saturday, Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph have one final preseason game to prove their worth against the Ravens. If the Packers are considering making a move, it is best to act sooner rather than later. The Commanders recently traded for Cade York, so teams such as the Packers, who are uncertain about their kicker situation, will likely follow suit and start exploring their options. Although these five players are by no means guaranteed solutions to the kicker position, they offer potential alternatives if the current competition fails to install any confidence heading into the regular season.
