The Minnesota Vikings are still kicking themselves over cutting Daniel Carlson

Following a successful career at Auburn, kicker [autotag]Daniel Carlson[/autotag] was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings during the 2018 NFL Draft.

His time in Minnesota would not last long, as he was cut just two games into his NFL career. The final straw for the Vikings came in a 29-29 tie with the Green Bay Packers, where he missed three field goals. Minnesota cut Carlson the next day, in favor of signing Dan Bailey.

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was asked about the change, and his response was snide, asking a rhetorical “Did you see the game?”

It was at that moment, that Carlson’s pro career began to change for the better. Since signing with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders in September 2018, Carlson has made 108 of 121 field goals and has only missed seven extra points in 140 attempts.

Removing Carlson from the roster was a move that the Vikings would ultimately come to regret. As Carlson has become an All-Pro kicker while Zimmer, as well as former general manager Rick Spielman, are no longer with the franchise.

Spielman, the Vikings general manager that cut Carlson, said in a video tweet Tuesday that letting Carlson go is something that he wishes he could re-do.

“He’s had a great career since we cut him, and he’ll continue to have a great career and may go down as one of the best kickers in NFL history,” Spielman said on Twitter. “That I do regret.”

Carlson has been an asset to the Raiders organization. Five of their 10 wins last season were thanks to Carlson’s kicks in the final seconds.

pic.twitter.com/ki2ppdZ9Pl

— Rick Spielman (@spielman_rick) August 23, 2022

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