​One of the top storylines surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders as training camp opens later this month will center on the kicking competition between the newly signed veteran Matt Gay and undrafted rookie Kansei Matsuzawa. The battle will unfold throughout training camp and across the three preseason games as the Raiders search for a reliable replacement for Daniel Carlson. A crucial element of the competition will be which kicker can consistently convert long-distance attempts, particularly those in the 50-yard-and-beyond range. Across the league, kickers are succeeding on long-range field goals at an unprecedented rate, a trend highlighted recently by former Raiders employee Ryan Paganetti. Last season, Gay connected on four of eight attempts from 50 yards or longer while with Washington and San Francisco. In contrast, Carlson converted five of eight attempts from beyond 50 yards for the Raiders during the previous campaign. If Matsuzawa, who is nicknamed the Tokyo Toe, demonstrates an ability to convert long field goals this summer, he could seize the job.
In other Raiders news: NFL.com weighs in on the most improved players expected to elevate their games in 2026. Meanwhile, ESPN has projected the Raiders’ starting lineup, ranking them at No. 27 in their current projections. These developments add context to the team’s ongoing preparations as camp approaches and help frame the expectations for the coming season. This story blends the anticipated kicking competition with broader assessments of the Raiders’ prospects, providing fans with a comprehensive view of the team’s summer narrative and how it could influence the 2026 campaign.