Matt Gay has won Raiders’ kicking job, what’s next?

Houston, TX - Kicker Matt Gay of the Las Vegas Raiders has secured the team’s kicking position after undrafted rookie Kansei Matsuzawa was waived. Veteran Gay is now set to kick for the Raiders in the upcoming regular season. The battle for the kicking job, initially expected to be intense, did not materialize as Matsuzawa, nicknamed "The Tokyo Toe," failed to impress even during preseason games, and had little impact on Gay.

The outcome was clear, and while Gay’s job security for now appears assured, the NFL is known for its weekly audition process for kickers. Since last season, Gay has bounced between teams and has been a less-than-stellar kicker in recent years. Despite this, Gay’s past success under former Raiders special teams coach Joe Decamillis with the Rams adds some credibility to his future.

However, if he continues to underperform, the Raiders might explore other options. For Matsuzawa, the next step could see him placed on the practice squad, a move that has been previously discussed. The Raiders see potential in the Hawaii native, but he is still raw and requires development. Given his talent, it may be worth the Raiders’ time to retain him in the program, even if he is years away from being NFL-ready.