3 hidden gems on the Las Vegas Raiders roster

2. Daniel Carlson has rebounded after miserable stint with Vikings

Notably cut by the Minnesota Vikings just two games into his rookie season after being a fifth-round pick in 2018, Carlson has found a soft landing with the Raiders. In 10 games for them over the rest of his rookie season, he went 16-for-17 on field goals and 18-for-18 on extra points.

After a tough year in 2019 (19-for-26 on field goals, albeit with six of seven misses from 40-plus yards out), Carlson rebounded last year by leading the league with 144 points. He went 33-for-35 on field goal attempts, including 4-for-4 from 50-plus yards out, while going 45-for-47 on extra points. He didn’t miss a field goal after Week 8, and of his nine attempts from 40 or more yards out only four came after the Raiders’ Week 6 bye. It appears Gruden found a way to more effectively deploy his kicker, which is half the battle with that position.

Carlson is also an effective kickoff man, among the leaders in touchbacks and touchback rate last year.

In games with a final margin of seven points or less last year, Carlson was perfect 15-for-15 on field goals and 25-for-26 on extra points. If the Raiders are going to win more games this year, it will surely be with him making a clutch kick or two.