New Orleans Saints just made a special teams roster move that could end up paying huge dividends in 2026
The New Orleans Saints just signed former Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, and it could be a huge move.
The New Orleans Saints just made a roster move that could pay major dividends for them in the 2026 season. You don’t always think that special teams moves are big or have big implications on a team. But, this one does. On Monday, the Saints signed two-time All-Pro kicker Daniel Carlson.
Carlson was the former kicker for the Las Vegas Raiders. He holds the nickname “Cash Money Carlson” for a reason. He’s accurate, and he can make long kicks. Now, Carlson didn’t have the best year in 2025, but historically he’s great. The Saints now have Tanner Brown, Ryan Wright, and Carlson on their roster. But that could change very soon. Carlson is joining late, so he may be at a disadvantage, but then again, this is the kicker position we’re talking about. There’s not much of a playbook he has to learn. Carlson can be a very good kicker for them in 2026, though.
Daniel Carlson’s 2025 season wasn’t great, but he still has some juice
Statistically, Carlson is the most accurate kicker in Las Vegas Raiders history at 87% on field goals. He’s got the second-most made field goals from 50-plus yards with 37. He’s also got the second-most made field goals in every single range. So, historically, he’s great. However, 2025 wasn’t his best year. At the same time, it wasn’t a terrible year.
He finished 2025 22/27 on field goals, and even had a 60-yarder. He was 5/8 on 50-plus yard field goals, and 6/8 on kicks from 40-49 yards. Every other range was perfect. Carlson missed one extra point, making him 21/22. The Raiders moved on from him under their new regime. Many thought that was a bad move. Now, the Saints get Carlson, a guy who can absolutely be one of the best kickers in the NFL.
