The Saints’ approach to the kicker position has been anything but stable, long before Charlie Smyth arrived in New Orleans. The franchise has cycled through specialists, rarely committing to one for long. Their latest move, bringing in two-time All-Pro Daniel Carlson to compete with Smyth, fits an unsettling historical pattern: perpetual uncertainty at a position most contenders treat as a bedrock.
This decision to upend the depth chart yet again, just weeks before the regular season, invites scrutiny. Last year, Smyth looked to have finally brought a measure of reliability. Taking over from Blake Grupe in November, the former Gaelic footballer converted 12 of 16 field goals and was perfect on 13 extra points. Not spectacular, but steadier than many of his predecessors. Yet, the front office’s actions suggest deep-seated doubts about whether "good enough" is truly enough.
Saints’ Internal Logic: Competition or Cover?
Smyth’s margin for error has never seemed narrower, despite a recent three-year contract. The Saints signed Tanner Brown from the United Football League in June, only to watch him miss a 39-yarder in the latest preseason defeat to the Rams. Instead of reaffirming Smyth’s grip on the job, the staff responded by signing Carlson, whose own resume is marked by peaks and valleys.
Carlson was cut by Minnesota as a rookie, then revived his career with the Raiders. His All-Pro seasons in 2021 and 2022 are hard to ignore, but last year’s 81.5% field goal rate was his lowest since 2019.
The pattern is clear: rather than back their chosen kicker through adversity, the Saints appear determined to create a revolving door. For a franchise haunted by playoff exits decided by a single kick, this risk aversion is understandable. But does it actually foster improvement, or does it simply breed anxiety and inconsistency at a critical position?
The preseason has provided little reassurance. Smyth missed his only field goal attempt so far, a 52-yarder against Jacksonville. Brown faltered as well. Was that enough to justify a high-profile addition so late in camp? The answer may lie less in on-field production and more in the front office’s appetite for plausible deniability. If the regular season starts with a missed kick, executives can point to their exhaustive search for alternatives.
Head coach Kellen Moore, entering his first season in New Orleans, has offered only stock answers about competition being part of NFL life. Smyth himself told reporters he would not take the moves personally, calling it “just the way it is in this business.” For all the talk of open competition, the timing and optics of the Carlson signing suggest an organization hedging its bets, not just fostering healthy rivalry.
The Saints’ handling of special teams stands in contrast to their approach elsewhere on the roster. At running back, for example, injuries have forced a string of desperate moves. With Ty Chandler reportedly facing a long absence due to a knee injury, and Alvin Kamara sidelined by a sprained MCL, the Saints traded for Zamir White and have been forced to juggle options behind Travis Etienne. There, necessity dictates action. At kicker, the moves feel more like preemptive insurance than crisis management.
The shadow of past misfires also looms over the Saints’ special teams unit. The franchise’s history is littered with stories of kickers shuffled in and out after a single costly mistake. This season was set up as a chance for stability, with Smyth expected to build on his first campaign as starter. The sudden arrival of Carlson muddies that vision.
The Saints will close their preseason against the Dallas Cowboys, with the regular season opener at Detroit looming on September 13. The final decision at kicker will likely come down to the wire. If recent history is any guide, the only certainty is that the Saints’ search for the perfect answer at kicker is far from over.
