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Vikings trade up to make Daniel Carlson 1st kicker off the board

Mike Comer / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Minnesota Vikings have selected kicker Daniel Carlson out of Auburn with the 167th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, trading the 180th and 204th overall selections to the New York Jets. In addition to moving up, the Vikings also acquired the 225th overall pick in the deal.

Carlson is the first kicker off the board in the 2018 draft. He hit every one of his extra points in college, and connected on 80.7 percent of his field goals.

Carlson will seemingly compete with Kai Forbath for the starting job in 2018. Forbath missed four extra points last season, and was 32-of-38 on field goal attempts.

Daniel Carlson Bio

Position: K
School: Auburn
College Experience: Redshirt Senior
Height: 6-5
Weight: 213 lbs

What the analysts are saying

  • "Rare size for the position with a lean, athletic frame and good overall weight distribution. Technically sound kicker with a measured, consistent approach." - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com
  • "Accuracy dropped from 87 percent to 74 percent this year. Below average trajectory off his foot." - Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

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