Fansided

4 free agents the Minnesota Vikings should happily let leave

By Brad Berreman

Dec 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings place kicker Greg Joseph (1) celebrates the win after the game against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings place kicker Greg Joseph (1) celebrates the win after the game against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Credit: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Credit: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images /

3. K Greg Joseph

Joseph had some good moments this season (see 61-yard game-winning field goal against the Giants on Christmas Eve). With the Vikings winning so many close games, it would seem he had a good season. Maybe he was even clutch on multiple occasions.

But not so fast. Joseph went just 26-for-33 on field goals (78.8 percent; 28th in the league; albeit 4-for-10 from 50-plus yards out) and he missed….checking…verifying….six extra points (40-for-46; 87 percent–24th in the league). It’s fortunate those misses didn’t cost the Vikings any wins. Broad fortune like they had this season can’t be counted on to repeat, and Joseph wasn’t a whole lot better in 2021 (33-for-38 on field goals, 36-for-40 on extra points). His notable misses can and will lose games going forward

The Vikings can never seem to find a suitable placekicker, and hindsight says they gave up on one they drafted a few years ago (Daniel Carlson) too soon because former head coach Mike Zimmer crushed the psyche of quarterbacks and kickers.

That said, Kevin O’Connell was willing to send Joseph out for some kicks he maybe shouldn’t have been allowed to try this year. It’s time for a new kicker in Minnesota, again — ideally one who can back up O’Connell’s confidence to try long-range field goals and miss fewer extra points. It doesn’t have to be hard.

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