Who Should Be the Vikings’ New Kicker?
Jhawthorn16
|
After missing three kicks in Sunday’s tie with Green Bay, young kicker Daniel Carlson’s job is now in question. Some people say you can’t cut ties with Carlson due to the draft capital you’ve put in to him, as the team traded up to take him in the 5th round. Some people say the Vikings should have had punter Matt Wile kick field goals in overtime. Personally, I think the team did the correct thing this Sunday by letting Carlson kick in overtime, but after those misses the team has to find a new kicker that can win them games. Let’s look at my three favorites to get a job this week kicking for the Minnesota Vikings.
Dan Bailey
The veteran kicker who would cost the most to bring in but is also the most accurate and experienced of the available kickers. Bailey was released by the Cowboys this offseason to free up some cap room and also because his play dipped last season while Bailey battled with a groin injury. Bailey was the most accurate kicker in NFL history until late last season when Justin Tucker took over that record, but Bailey is still a close second. Bailey has proven over a lengthy career that he can make his PATs and his field goals, and that’s all the Vikings need out of their kicker.
Kai Forbath
The Vikings cut ties with Forbath after a pedestrian year as a kicker for the team, but Forbath had some big kicks last season that showed he wasn’t in his own head. The most important kick of his career and the Vikings’ season at the time was the go-ahead field goal he drilled against the Saints to put the Vikings up two late in the 4th quarter. Forbath missed 5 PATs and 6 field goals, but he showed up in the clutch for the team and didn’t cause the team to lose or tie any games due to his play. Forbath was released by Minnesota early in the preseason, just before Carlson’s troubles began.
Blair Walsh
This is a stretch. I am fully aware this is a stretch. However, Walsh missed 7 field goals and only 1 PAT last season, and he would be a cheap option to try out. Walsh was a dead-on kicker his rookie year, going 15 for 15 on field goals and showing off a big-time leg in the process. Walsh struggled in the years to come, but Seattle was able to sign Walsh to a 1-year deal with no guaranteed money in the contract, and the Vikings should be able to do a similar deal. This option does have the “dramatic movie comeback” feel to it, and I would much rather have the kickers listed above, but if it comes to money or how many teams need a kicker this week, Walsh could end up being the best available and the team could get him cheap.
The Vikings still got half a win on Sunday, and the tie shouldn’t be seen as the end of the world. The Vikings were a kick away from a win and should address the position soon and get someone capable of doing their job. SKOL!