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Minnesota Vikings: 5 burning questions for 2018

By Joe D'Aloisio

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) laughs before the start of the regular season game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) laughs before the start of the regular season game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Kai Forbath, Minnesota Vikings
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 17: Kai Forbath #2 of the Minnesota Vikings and Ryan Quigley #4 of the Minnesota Vikings in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 17, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

4. Who will be the Vikings’ kicker? 

Everybody remember Blair Walsh, right? And how inconsistent and unreliable he became. The Vikings released Walsh in 2016. At the time he was released, he missed NFL-high four extra points and four field goals.

As a result, they signed veteran kick Kai Forbath. Last season Forbath had a field goal percentage of 84.2 percent and an extra point percentage of 87.2 percent.

He was one of the best kickers in the league from distance, nailing six of nine attempts from 50+ yards, fifth best in the NFL. However, his extra point percentage was one of the worst in the league.

In this year’s NFL Draft, the Vikings elected to trade two sixth-round picks to the New York Jets to select Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson from Auburn.

Carlson had an unbelievable collegiate career and holds 14 of Auburn’s kicking records and made 13 field goals over 50-plus yards. However, in his final season, he posted his worst field goal percentage at 74.2 percent.

Forbath was disappointed with the organization for drafting Carlson and there is no guarantee he will be with the team next season.

The kicker position is heavily overlooked but is crucial in the NFL. Even though it appears the Vikings added their kicker of the future, there is no guarantee he will be the starter and he will need to earn his role and beat out the journeyman.

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