Saints waive kicker Charlie Smyth after kicking competition loss to Dan Carlson

The New Orleans Saints have waived kicker Charlie Smyth ahead of the new NFL season, according to Yahoo Sports. The move comes after Smyth lost a kicking competition to Dan Carlson, leaving New Orleans with a different option at the position as the roster tightens heading into the year.

In the Saints’ decision, the central issue was straightforward. With the regular season approaching, New Orleans evaluated its kicking options and ultimately selected Carlson over Smyth. A waiver at this stage typically reflects a team’s preference to keep one kicker on the active roster or reserve corps, while allowing the other to potentially find a new opportunity elsewhere.

For Smyth, the waiver is a reset point. Even when a competition is close, special teams roles can be unforgiving because they require consistent results in high-leverage moments, including kickoffs, field goals, and extra points. Once a team finalizes its choice, the available leverage around the position tends to shrink quickly for the players on the bubble.

The Saints’ kicking situation now centers on Carlson as New Orleans looks to lock down production and stability throughout the season. In a league where teams often separate themselves by margins of points, the kicker becomes one of the most scrutinized roster roles, particularly in games decided by late field goals or the conversion of extra points.

Smyth’s waiver also affects how other teams may view his availability. When a kicker is released after an August competition, it can create a short window for teams that need depth at the position, are dealing with performance concerns, or want an experienced option with preseason tape available. Whether another club claims Smyth will determine how quickly he returns to a game-day role.

What to watch next for New Orleans is how the Saints finalize the rest of their roster around the kicking job, including whether they keep additional specialist depth and how Carlson performs once the regular-season preparation fully begins. For Smyth, the next step will be watching for either a claim off waivers or a subsequent opportunity to latch onto a roster elsewhere.