Minnesota Vikings Carlson was selected by the
Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round (167th overall) of the
2018 NFL draft. He was one of two kickers to be drafted that year, the other being
Jason Sanders by the
Miami Dolphins. In the offseason, he competed with veteran kicker
Kai Forbath. Forbath was released by the team on August 20, 2018. Carlson made his NFL debut in the season-opening 24–16 victory over the
San Francisco 49ers and converted all three extra point attempts and a field goal attempt. In the next game against the
Green Bay Packers, he missed a field goal in regulation and two in overtime, resulting in a 29–29 tie. The following day, Carlson was
waived and replaced by veteran
Dan Bailey.
Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders Carlson was signed by the
Oakland Raiders on October 23, 2018, after the team released fellow rookie kicker
Matt McCrane. In his Raiders' debut in Week 8, Carlson converted all four extra point attempts during a 42–28 loss to the
Indianapolis Colts. Three weeks later, Carlson made two extra points and three field goals, including a 35-yard game winner as time expired, in a narrow 23–21 victory over the
Arizona Cardinals, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Carlson went on to convert 94% of his field goal attempts for the Raiders in 2018, setting a new team record. On April 16, 2020, Carlson was re-signed to a one-year contract. During the 2020 offseason, Carlson switched his jersey number from 8 to 2 in order for quarterback
Marcus Mariota to wear number 8. In Week 1 against the
Carolina Panthers, Carlson was a perfect 4-for-4 on his extra point and field goal attempts, including a career long 54-yard field goal, during the 34–30 road victory. Carlson was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance. Carlson was also named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his performance the following December. The Raiders placed a second-round
restricted free agent tender on Carlson on March 17, 2021. He signed the tender on April 29. In Week 2, Carlson converted all four field goal attempts and both extra-point attempts in a 26–17 victory over the
Pittsburgh Steelers, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. On
Thanksgiving Day against the
Dallas Cowboys, he went 3–3 on extra points and 5–5 on field goals in a 36–33 overtime road victory, including a career-long 56-yarder to take a late lead in the 4th quarter and a 29-yarder to win the game in overtime. Carlson's Thanksgiving Day performance earned him another AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor, a feat only two other kickers had achieved at that point in the season. On December 9, 2021, Carlson signed a four-year, $18.4 million extension with the Raiders, making him the third-highest-paid kicker in the
NFL. Down the stretch of the 2021 season, Carlson's kicking performance would become crucial for the Raiders. In Week 15 against the
Cleveland Browns, Carlson made all three of his field goal attempts, the last of which being a 48-yard field goal that won the game for the Raiders. Two weeks later against the
Indianapolis Colts, Carlson successfully converted all three of his field goal attempts and both of his extra-point attempts to account for 11 of the 23 points the Raiders scored in the contest, including the game-winning field goal. Carlson's performance tied him with
New England Patriots' kicker
Nick Folk for leading the league in field goals made and field goals attempted in the 2021 season. In the regular season finale against the
Los Angeles Chargers, Carlson made five field goals, including a game-winning 47-yard attempt as time expired in overtime. The Raiders would clinch a playoff spot and eliminate the Chargers from playoff contention. In the 2022 season, Carlson converted 35-of-36 extra point attempts and 34-of-37 field goal attempts. In the 2023 season, he converted all 32 extra point attempts and 26-of-30 field goal attempts. In the 2024 season, he converted 23-of-25 extra point attempts and 34-of-40 field goal attempts. In the 2025 season, Carlson converted 21 of 22 extra point attempts and 22 of 27 field goal attempts. ==Career statistics==