NEW ORLEANS -- The
Saints Move Forward with Carlson
Carlson, a two-time All-Pro honoree in 2021 and 2022, is set to take over the kicking duties for the Saints. The 28-year-old kicker was originally selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He spent the majority of his career with the Las Vegas Raiders from 2018 until 2025. Despite his previous accolades, Carlson's performance last season raised concerns; he converted only 81.5% of his field goal attempts, marking his lowest success rate since 2019. Additionally, he faced challenges in critical moments, including a missed extra point against the Jaguars in Week 9 and a failed tying field goal attempt against the Broncos in Week 10.
Competition Among Kickers
Prior to Carlson's signing, the Saints had been evaluating Tanner Brown and Charlie Smyth as potential kickers. Smyth, who joined the Saints through the International Player Pathway, had taken over kicking responsibilities after Blake Grupe was released last season. In his limited appearances, Smyth successfully made 12 of 16 field goal attempts over six games. However, his performance during training camp was inconsistent, highlighted by two practice days where he missed three kicks. Brown, who was signed in June after a stint with the Louisville Kings in the UFL, also struggled to establish himself, going 2-for-3 in preseason games while Smyth missed his only attempt during that period.
With Carlson now on board, the Saints are looking to solidify their kicking game as they prepare for the upcoming season, hoping his experience and past success will translate into improved performance on the field.
