The Saints have been holding a kicking competition this summer, but it appears they aren't happy with either of their current choices for the job.
Saints to sign K Daniel Carlson
Saints to sign K Daniel Carlson
Scoring Zone's Take
Daniel Carlson landing with the Saints is a modest but real fantasy-relevant transaction as you build out draft boards. Carlson has been a reliable, high-volume kicker in Las Vegas for years, and a move to New Orleans puts him in a new offensive context that you'll want to monitor closely over the preseason. Kicker value in fantasy is almost entirely tied to the offense's scoring efficiency and red-zone-to-field-goal conversion rate, so his fantasy ceiling with the Saints will hinge on how that offense shapes up under its current personnel — something these two brief transaction reports don't clarify.
For draft purposes, treat Carlson as a late-round or streaming-category kicker rather than a locked-in starter until you see how Saints training camp and preseason snaps play out. Both sources carry only 50% confidence and offer no details on offensive fit, competition at the position, or contract terms, so there's real uncertainty about whether this signing guarantees him the starting job or is merely a camp addition. Don't reach for him early — kickers are volatile and replaceable, and this is exactly the kind of depth-chart news that can shift again before Week 1.
Actionable takeaway: note Carlson as a name to track in New Orleans, but hold off on drafting him with confidence until camp battles clarify the depth chart and the Saints' offensive outlook firms up. If you're in a league where kicker streaming matters, keep him on your watch list rather than your primary draft target, and revisit once training camp reports confirm role and offensive context.