The Las Vegas Raiders underwent quite a bit of change this offseason in an attempt to kickstart their ongoing rebuild. The addition of quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is obviously the biggest reason for excitement, but there are several other new faces worth keeping tabs on this year.
While the Raiders brought in a handful of players this offseason, they also moved on from some of their own guys, too. One such example is former All-Pro kicker Daniel Carlson, who Las Vegas let walk in free agency. Carlson has spent much of the offseason searching for a new home, and right before the start of the season, he has managed to latch on with the New Orleans Saints.
Saints Sign Former Raiders Kicker Daniel Carlson in Free Agency
The former #Raiders kicker brings experience to New Orleans, which had been holding a competition between Tanner Brown and Charlie Smyth.
Carlson was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, but after just two games with the team, he was released. The Raiders scooped up Carlson, and he ended up becoming their new kicker, which is a position he held through the 2025 campaign. During that time, Carlson turned himself into one of the most consistent players at his position.
While he has never been selected to the Pro Bowl, Carlson earned a pair of All-Pro selections in 2021 and 2022, with the latter year seeing him get selected to the First Team. However, since that season, Carlson’s play has gradually declined, to the point where he made just 81.5% of his field goal attempts last season.
Among the changes Las Vegas made this offseason, it decided to move on from Carlson, bringing in Matt Gay and Kansei Matsuzawa to compete for the starting job. In the meantime, Carlson has been preparing for his next opportunity in the pros, and it has come with the Saints, who are adding another option at kicker amid their ongoing battle between Tanner Brown and Charlie Smyth.
“The Saints are signing two-time All-Pro K Daniel Carlson, his agents at Range Sports tell me and Ian Rapoport,” Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported in a post on X. “The former Raiders kicker brings experience to New Orleans, which had been holding a competition between Tanner Brown and Charlie Smyth.”
Raiders Appear Set to Make Matt Gay Their Replacement for Daniel Carlson
GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 07: Daniel Carlson #8 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on before the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on August 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
While Carlson is a late arrival in town for New Orleans, the fact that it is adding him to its roster indicates he will have a shot at beating out Brown and Smyth for the starting job. He may not necessarily be the All-Pro player he once was, but Carlson is still one of the better kickers in the league when he’s playing up to his potential.
As for the Raiders, Gay seems to be closing in on winning the starting job, which was always the expected outcome. While Matsuzawa has potential, Gay has been the better kicker throughout training camp, as his experience in the pros has shined through to this point. Nothing is official yet in this department, but with roster cuts quickly approaching, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Gay be crowned the winner of this position battle in the very near future.
Former Raiders All-Pro Signs With NFC South Contender in Free Agency