Daniel Carlson is well versed on a lot of the challenges that an NFL kicker can face as he embarks on a new -- and hopefully extended -- chapter with the New Orleans Saints.
Most recently, the career experienced was being cast off by the Raiders after eight seasons and relocating to Auburn, Alabama, where he played collegiately. The school allowed him to use their facility to stay sharp as he awaited his next chance, and he had friends using their lunch breaks to help him out with snaps and holds. It was all in advance of the type of opportunity that arrived this week, as he joins a three-way kicking competition in the final week of camp and in hopes of winning the job for the 2026 season.
"It's a tricky situation, but everybody's handled it great and, it's just about controlling what you can and the opportunities you get," Carlson said. "You have no idea how that's going to shake out over a preseason. … It's just, whenever the opportunity does come, you have to take advantage and that's the best you can do.”
Brought to you by TRANESOUTH: It's hard to stop a Tranewww.audacy.comProbably the most important chunk of the battle will take place on Wednesday evening at Tulane's Yulman Stadium, the final open practice of training camp and the last full kicking session before the preseason finale against the Cowboys on Friday. Charlie Smyth and Tanner Brown have been battling throughout camp, with both looking shaky. Smyth has missed 10 kicks during practice and his lone field goal attempt in preseason action. Meanwhile, Brown -- who had success with the Louisville Kings of the UFL last season -- has been more consistent overall, but has four misses inside of 40 yards. That includes a 38-yard miss at the end of a shutout loss to the Rams last Saturday.
What Carlson brings is a much more confidence-inspiring track record. Even in a down year with the Raiders he knocked through 22 of 27 kicks, including a 60-yard game-winner in his final attempt that also represents a career long. Carlson made over 90% of his kicks for three consecutive seasons with the Raiders (2019-'21) and was twice named All-Pro. He boasts a career make percentage of 86.9% (225 of 259) and has made 244 of 255 PAT attempts (95.7%). He's made 35 of 51 attempts from 50-plus in his career, including a career high 11 makes from that range in 2022.
"You never know how long an NFL career is going to last," Carlson said. "Likelihood, it's not going to last very long. So getting to do what I got to do with the Raiders for as many years as I got to do it, I'm extremely grateful."
Carlson said he'd had talks with other teams, but noted that finding a situation that worked for his wife and three kids -- with a fourth on the way -- was the priority. Despite how things ended with the Raiders, the 6-5 kicker thinks there's plenty more ahead as he enters year 9.
"I still feel very young and, you know, feel as young as I ever did," he said, "My body feels as good as I ever did, and, you know, I know that's not the case for a lot of players with the physicality of the sport. So, yeah, I'm just hoping my experience and what I've learned over the years, the good and the bad, continues to help me onward."
