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Saints Sign All-Pro Kicker Daniel Carlson

8/24/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The New Orleans Saints signed two-time All-Pro kicker Daniel Carlson.
Carlson, a 2018 fifth-round pick, spent 2018-2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders.
He holds an 86.9% career field-goal rate and made 22 of 27 attempts (81.5%) in 2025.
He received second-team All-Pro honors in 2021 and first-team in 2022.
In 2022 he made 34 of 37 field goals, including 11 from beyond 50 yards.

History

Historical Context

In 1994 the NFL instituted its first hard salary cap, set at $33.8 million per team, forcing clubs to allocate limited funds across all positions. That cap created a market for high-paying specialists, a pattern the New Orleans Saints followed in 2024 by signing kicker Daniel Carlson and committing a sizable portion of their modern $255.4 million cap.

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Story summary

The New Orleans Saints signed two-time All-Pro kicker Daniel Carlson.
Carlson, a 2018 fifth-round pick, spent 2018-2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders.
He holds an 86.9% career field-goal rate and made 22 of 27 attempts (81.5%) in 2025.
He received second-team All-Pro honors in 2021 and first-team in 2022.
In 2022 he made 34 of 37 field goals, including 11 from beyond 50 yards.

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