Former Packers draft pick gets new chance to rebuild career after frustrating start that left doubts about future

Kicker Anders Carlson spent a year in Green Bay and also played for the 49ers and Jets. Now, he gets a new chance and will play for the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL.

Wendell Ferreira — NFL News Writer
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Green Bay Packers place kicker Anders Carlson (17) is shown during the third quarter of their preseason game against the New England Patriots Saturday, August 19, 2023 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Green Bay Packers place kicker Anders Carlson (17) is shown during the third quarter of their preseason game against the New England Patriots Saturday, August 19, 2023 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The idea of drafting kickers per se is already questionable. When the Green Bay Packers spent a sixth-round pick on Anders Carlson, who was always perceived as a raw prospect, the writing was on the wall. Three years later, the 27-year-old is trying to rebuild his career and signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL.

It’s hard to find a solid kicker

Carlson had a rough rookie season in Green Bay, missing six field goals and five extra points during the 2023 regular season. Even worse, he missed a costly 41-yard field goal in the playoffs against the San Francisco 49ers. In the following training camp, he battled with multiple kickers, and the Packers ended up claiming Brayden Narveson off waivers from the Tennessee Titans.

Since then, the Packers signed veteran Brandon McManus, and Anders Carlson had his own NFL experiences elsewhere. He played two games for the San Francisco 49ers, converting all his five field goals and three of four extra points, and five games for the New York Jets — all of them in 2024. Last year, the Jets released Carlson in June, and the kicker hadn’t had more opportunities since.

Minor leagues matter

The UFL isn’t the ideal world for a former draft pick, but it’s a way for Anders Carlson to get back to the kicking circuit. The Packers themselves took advantage of the minor leagues on special teams, signing punter Daniel Whelan after a strong season for the DC Defenders in the XFL and kicker Lucas Havrisik after a stint with the Arlington Renegades in the UFL.

Anders Carlson was the result of a bad process in Green Bay, but that doesn’t mean he can’t get back into the league. Trying a UFL experience is the first step for a player who was raw to prove he can still develop into a viable and reliable alternative for NFL teams.

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