GREEN BAY – Brian Gutekunst might be making another change at kicker.
The Green Bay Packers general manager packaged his two seventh-round picks to trade up to the final slot in the sixth round, where he drafted Florida kicker Trey Smack with the 216th overall pick. Green Bay acquired the pick from Seattle, who received the Nos. 236 and 255 overall selections in the seventh round.
Such an aggressive move to add a kicker in the draft is enough to put an incumbent starter on notice.
The Packers left seven points off the board in their 31-27 playoff loss at Chicago on three missed kicks from Brandon McManus. A year after McManus revived his career with a stellar 2024 season, the Packers’ kicking situation was routinely dismal in 2025. The Packers lost games against Cleveland, Carolina and Philadelphia when a missed kick could have made the difference.
In the regular season, McManus finished 24 of 30 on field goals and 32 of 33 on extra points. His missed extra point was blocked in Dallas, which could have made the difference in what became a 40-40 tie. He missed both field goal attempts and an extra point in the wild-card game at the Bears. McManus also missed three games because of a quad injury on his kicking leg last season.
McManus has two years left on a three-year deal he signed before the start of last season. The Packers would keep $4.33 million in dead cap if they release him, saving only $945,097.
Smack consistently showed a big leg at Florida. He made 53 of 64 field goals (82.8%) in three seasons, including 10 of 13 from at least 50 yards. He also converted 100 of 101 extra points.
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers trade up into sixth round for Florida kicker Trey Smack