Minnesota Vikings: Top options to replace Daniel Carlson at kicker

Cairo Santos

If it wasn’t for the arrival of Harrison Butker, Cairo Santos would still be the Kansas City Chiefs’ kicker. Unfortunately, he isn’t anymore, which now has Santos waiting by the phone for an opportunity to return to the NFL. Well, maybe this is the opening he’s been hoping for.

Yes, Santos does have his limitations. While he’s always been an accurate kicker, his lack of leg power was part of the reason the Chiefs decided to replace him. At the same time, how much power can you expect from a guy who’s 5-8, 160 pounds?

Either way, Santos has to be a consideration for the Vikings to replace Carlson. He’s extremely accurate from within 50 yards, meaning he’s more than capable of connecting on extra points at a consistent clip. The lack of long-range ability certain hurts his case, but it’s not a deal-breaker considering how efficient the Minnesota offense has been this season.

Realistically, Santos probably has the lowest odds of joining the Vikings among the names on this list. If you’re looking for an underrated option for Spielman to consider, though, it’s worth keeping the Brazil native in mind.