Adam Fromal's Kicker Value Added (KVA) metric is the best way to analyze NFL kickers. And based on this info, the Las Vegas Raiders were justified in moving on from Daniel Carlson this offseason. They made a poor decision replacing him with Matt Gay, though, whose KVA is much lower than Carlson's.
Las Vegas did add a promising youngster in UDFA Kansei Matsuzawa, who was incredibly accurate in college and had the NCAA's third-highest KVA in 2025. But he has struggled this preseason, as has Gay, prompting Raiders fans to want Carlson back before the 2026 NFL season gets underway.
But maybe the Silver and Black are better off trying something a bit unconventional and developing a younger and more unproven player with a strong leg and significant upside. Here are a handful of players who fit into that category that the Raiders could pursue if their kicker issues persist.
Unconventional kicker options for Raiders if Matt Gay and Kansei Matsuzawa continue to struggle
1. Will Ferrin
Ferrin hasn't really gotten a chance in the NFL yet, as he signed with the New York Jets for just a week earlier this offseason. But in three seasons at BYU, he made 58 of 71 field goals (81.7%) and led the Big 12 Conference in both field goals made and points scored during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
He also made a 56-yarder in college and went 8-for-11 from 50+ yards in his final two campaigns. Ferrin uncharacteristically struggled from 40-49 yards as a senior after kicking well from that range in his previous two seasons, but he clearly has a strong leg and the ability to be a high-end kicker.
Fromal's Numbers: Ferrin's elite 2024 campaign, in which he finished 4th in NCAA KVA, looks like an aberration when the scope widens, and one sees that he finished 40th and 72nd in the other two years. His average make distances of 38.82 and 38.63 in 2023 and 2024 dropped to 33.88 in 2025, and his average attempt distance went from 40.79 to 39.52 to 36.87 across three years.
2. Noe Ruelas
Ruelas hasn't spent time on an NFL roster yet, earning only a rookie minicamp invite from the Indianapolis Colts. But at three different college stops, he made 46 of 57 kicks (80.7%), improving each year up to 88.2% as a senior. Ruelas' career long is 54 yards, which he's made multiple times.
In his final three college seasons, he did not miss from inside 40 yards, and he only failed to connect from 40-49 yards twice. Ruelas was 5-for-9 on kicks of 50+ in his last two seasons, and he went 98-for-101 on extra points in his collegiate career.
Fromal's Numbers: Ruelas went from being 69th, 89th and 43rd in KVA during his first three college seasons to No. 4 as a senior. Most notably, his average make distance rose to 41.57 in 2025, and his average attempt distance was 42.33. Clearly, he improved throughout his career and can consistently make field goals from a solid range.
3. Jonah Dalmas
Dalmas is quite a reach on this list, as he graduated from Boise State two years ago and hasn't gotten a chance in the NFL yet. But in college, he knocked in a 56-yarder and went 93-for-108 (86.1%) on his field goals, as well as 229-for-232 on extra points. Simply put, Dalmas has some talent.
This past spring, Dalmas played three games for the UFL's Columbus Aviators. He made 5 of his 7 field goal attempts (one was blocked), going a perfect 2-for-2 from 40-49 yards, 3-for-5 from 50-59 yards, and 1-for-2 from 60+ yards. That's right, Dalmas made a 61- yarder in a game setting.
Fromal's Numbers: Dalmas ranked 22nd, 2nd, 21st, 3rd and 145th in NCAA KVA during his five-year college career. As a freshman, his average make distance was 40.86, and his average attempt distance was 41.50. He ranged from 32.88 to 37.50 in the former and 33.61 to 38.04 in the latter in the next four years. But his college career was quite notable overall, outside of a freak fifth year.
4. BT Potter
Potter is currently on another NFL roster. But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will keep Chase McLaughlin as their guy, and Potter will soon be on the waiver wire or available as a street free agent. And although he isn't super consistent, his leg talent is hard to deny.
At Clemson, Potter made a field goal of 51 or more yards in each of his last four seasons, and during his UFL stint with the Michigan Panthers in 2025, he knocked in a 56-yarder. He only made 11 of his 16 attempts, which is just 68.8%, but Potter clearly has a strong enough leg to be developed.
Fromal's Numbers: Potter turned in the 11th-highest and 19th-highest KVAs in the NCAA in 2020 and 2021, respectively. During those seasons, his average make distances were 37.17 and 38.57, while his average attempt distances were 38.17 and 39.23. His inconsistency crept up in 2022, ranking 36th and seeing his average make distance drop to 36.05, with his average attempt being 39.
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