Packers expect that competition can bring the best out of their kickers

The Green Bay Packers decided to create competition for former sixth-round pick kicker Anders Carlson, so they signed former Minnesota Vikings' veteran Greg Joseph. But don't get it wrong, this isn't a slam dunk signing.

Joseph has had similarly mediocre numbers throughout his NFL career, and a real competition between him and Carlson is the expectation. It's unclear at this point how Jake Podlesny will factor in the competition, but it's hard to imagine the Packers carrying three kickers on the 90-man roster for training camp and preseason.

Recent data

Carlson and Joseph had pretty similar statistical numbers in the 2023 season. Carlson was slightly better in field goal percentage, while Joseph was the 28th in this area for the second straight season. However, the veteran was more consistent kicking extra points, an area in which nobody in the NFL made more mistakes than Carlson last season.

Both Carlson and Joseph converted every field goal from 0 to 39 yards. The biggest problems happen between 40 and 49 yards, where both converted only 50% of their kicks - and that is a regular season stat, so it doesn't count Carlson's worst miss, a 41-yard field goal against the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Joseph vs Carlson in 2023:

0-19

• Joseph 1-1 (100%)
• Carlson 0-0

20-29

• Joseph 7/7 (100%)
• Carlson 6-6 (100%)

30-39

• Joseph 9/9 (100%)
• Carlson 14/14 (100%)

40-49

• Joseph 3/6 (50%)
• Carlson 4/8 (50%)

50+

• Joseph 4/7 (57,14%)
• Carlson 3/5 (60%)

Total

• Joseph 24/30 (80%)
• Carlson 27/33 (81.8%)

Extra points

• Joseph 36/38 (94.7%)
• Carlson 34/39 (87.2%)

Kickoff average

• Joseph 64.4 yards
• Carlson 63.6 yards

PFF kicking grade

• Joseph 64.2
• Carlson 46.8

Joseph's advantage

Greg Joseph is more used to the competition life for kickers in the NFL. Even if he played the last three seasons for the same team, the Minnesota Vikings always brought in competition: Riley Patterson in 2021, Gabe Brkic in 2022, and another player who's with the Packers right now, Jake Podlesny in 2023.

And even though both Joseph and Carlson had similar raw numbers last season, the veteran had a much higher PFF kicking grade. That means he missed harder kicks, which might include mistakes from other parts of the operation (long snapper and holder).

Carlson's advantage

The main point is that Anders Carlson is cheaper.

As a vested veteran, Joseph signed a deal up to $1.295 million with the Packers with no significant guarantees. Meanwhile, Carlson will make $915,000 as part of his rookie-scale contract.

The isolated salary is not a big difference. But if Joseph plays well, he would demand a new (and probably bigger) contract next offseason, while Carlson is under a cheap contract for two more seasons and can't be extended before the end of his third season in the league, in 2025.

The Packers gave a full year for Anders Carlson to develop, and that cost them a playoff game. Now, he might still be the starter going forward, but without the benefit of the doubt he had during his rookie year.