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Oakland Raiders: 5 players who were a pleasant surprise in 2018

By Brad Weiss

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Gareon Conley #21 of the Oakland Raiders intercepts a pass intended for Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns and runs in back for a touchown at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 30, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Gareon Conley #21 of the Oakland Raiders intercepts a pass intended for Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns and runs in back for a touchown at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 30, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 18: Daniel Carlson #8 of the Oakland Raiders kicks the game winning 35 yard field goal against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Oakland Raiders won 23-21. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 18: Daniel Carlson #8 of the Oakland Raiders kicks the game winning 35 yard field goal against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Oakland Raiders won 23-21. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Daniel Carlson

During the summer, the battle for the kicker spot was between Giorgio Tavecchio and Eddy Pineiro, an undrafted rookie out of the University of Florida. Well, the Raiders released Tavecchio, clearing the way for Mike Nugent to serve as Pineiro’s mentor, but Nugent ended up being the kicker when Pineiro was placed on injured reserve prior to the season.

In a turn of fate, Nugent ended up going down due to injury, and the team had to go out and sign Matt McCrane to  take over as kicker. That experiment did not last long, and when the team made the decision to sign Daniel Carlson, a 2018 draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings who was cut by the team, many Raiders fans figured it would be a short-term answer.

Turns out Carlson was well worth the draft pick, and the Vikings gave up on him too soon, as he became quite the reliable leg for the Silver and Black. Carlson connected on 16-of-17 field goals, hit all of his extra points, and looks to be a lock to be the starting kicker moving forward, that is if the Raiders can get him under contract.

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