The Las Vegas Raiders’ hopes of a Daniel Carlson reunion took another hit Monday, when the veteran kicker agreed to sign with the New Orleans Saints, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
That move doesn’t lock anything in just yet. Carlson still has to win the job in New Orleans, where the Saints already had Charlie Smyth and Tanner Brown in a kicking competition. Now Carlson enters that mix, and the addition of a proven veteran says plenty about where that battle stood before he arrived.
For Raiders fans who had started pushing hard for Carlson’s return, the news shuts the door on at least one obvious path back to Las Vegas. That chatter had picked up because Matt Gay hasn’t inspired much confidence so far, and undrafted rookie Kansei Matsuzawa has also struggled badly. With both options underwhelming, plenty of Raiders supporters began looking back at the familiar face they already knew could handle the job.
The Raiders, though, had already made their own decision to move on from Carlson this offseason, and the analytics backed that call. Even so, it’s easy to see why the second-guessing started once the replacements failed to settle things down.
Carlson’s 2025 season followed a downward trend that had been building for a while, but he still had one big reminder of what he could do: a career-long 60-yard game-winning field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs in the finale. That kick stood out as the exception rather than the norm, but it also helped keep his name fresh in the minds of fans who remember the many big moments he delivered in silver and black.
There’s also a little Raiders overlap building in New Orleans. The Saints traded for former Las Vegas running back Zamir White just one night before adding Carlson, and Tyree Wilson was dealt there earlier this offseason. If all three stick, they’ll get a shot at Klint Kubiak’s team in Week 3 at Caesars Superdome, with a chance to face the regime that moved on from them.
In Other News...
Tom Brady Just Sent Raiders Fans A Loud Fernando Mendoza Message
Tom Brady has been making headlines again around the Raiders, this time with a move that has plenty of layers beyond the usual memorabilia chase. The teams part-owner recently went after a one-of-one Fernando Mendoza rookie card, a piece that carries Mendozas first NFL autograph and checks every box for a high-end collector. The deal took weeks of back-and-forth to complete and reportedly included both cash and an autographed jersey before Brady was able to land the card and show it off publicly.
For Raiders fans, the intrigue goes beyond the card itself and into what Brady seems to be signaling about Mendozas future. He views the purchase as more than a collectors trophy, treating it as a bet on Mendozas potential with Las Vegas. Whether it is savvy investment or simply a loud show of confidence, Bradys move adds another layer to the growing attention around the rookie and the role he could eventually play for the franchise. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Already Moved On From Their Newest Receiver Addition
The Raiders latest wide receiver swing lasted only a week, with Noah Brown coming in, getting into a preseason game, and then being released after a single catch for 11 yards. It was a quick turn for a player who had just been added to a position group that has been shaped all summer by injuries and the constant search for reliable depth.
Las Vegas did not immediately bring in another receiver after moving on from Brown, which makes the timing worth watching as the roster settles in. With injuries forcing adjustments and another wideout expected back soon, the Raiders appear to be sorting through numbers and roles rather than making a long-term commitment at the bottom of the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Former Raiders Specialist Just Walked Into A High-Stakes Kicker Battle
The Saints are adding a familiar name to a kicking competition that had already been drawing attention, bringing in veteran Daniel Carlson to challenge for the starting job. Carlson spent years with the Raiders and built a reputation as one of the leagues most reliable specialists, earning two All-Pro nods before landing back in the middle of a training camp battle in New Orleans.
Charlie Smyth had been viewed as the frontrunner, with Tanner Brown also in the mix, but Carlsons arrival changes the feel of the race. For the Saints, it turns a straightforward camp story into a pressure-packed evaluation, with a proven veteran now trying to carve out a spot before the regular season arrives. [Read more 🡒]