The New Orleans Saints recently signed Daniel Carlson, hoping the veteran could bring some stability to their struggling competition. Early evaluations suggest they may still need to look for a more definitive answer.
Neither Tanner Brown nor Charlie Smyth secured the job before Carlson arrived. Brown missed a 39-yard attempt during the preseason, and Smyth's leg strength has been offset by inconsistency on the more routine kicks. Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football gave a blunt assessment of the competition during an appearance on Ari Meirov's "NFL Spotlight" podcast.
“Brutal — Nobody can make a kick,” Underhill said. “Tanner Brown misses a 39-yarder, and he had all the pedigree, too. If you’re signing someone, it’s like, ‘Oh, this guy’s the real
deal. He’s going to settle this.’”
Carlson at least gives the Saints an experienced alternative against two players still early in their careers. Underhill mentioned that Carlson has remained effective on shorter attempts in recent years, though the longer-distance kicks also present a concern.
“Carlson is still good inside the 40s over the last few years,” Underhill said. “From distance, it’s been shaky. We’ll see where it settles. I wouldn’t be surprised to see another move at the end of this week.”
The Saints can evaluate Carlson against Brown and Smyth before choosing a winner, but their options could also expand as other teams cut their rosters down to 53 players. A kicker who loses another competition could give the Saints a more attractive alternative. Additionally, a signing might not be the only path available. Underhill noted that the Saints could consider trading for a kicker if Carlson fails to win the job.
Carlson, the two-time All-Pro kicker, could still emerge as the best option in the building. The Saints adding him this late in the preseason—and potentially remaining open to other moves—shows how unsettled the position remains as the regular season approaches in early September. It's unclear what they will do; Preseason Week 3 vs. the Cowboys could significantly affect who initially wins the job.
To watch Underhill's full interview with Ari Meirov, click the link below:
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Early returns on Daniel Carlson suggest Saints still need a kicker
