Full Breakdown
Packers Draft Florida Kicker Trey Smack with Final Sixth-Round Pick
4/26/2026, 1:29:06 PM
Core Event: Trade-Up Selection of Trey Smack at No. 216
On Saturday, the Green Bay Packers traded both of their seventh-round selections (Nos. 236 and 255) to the Seattle Seahawks to move up and select Florida Gators kicker Trey Smack with the 216th overall pick, the last pick of the sixth round in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Background & Context: Recent Kicking Instability
The Packers have lacked a stable placekicker since Mason Crosby left after the 2022 season. A 2023 sixth-round pick, Anders Carlson, missed 11 attempts and was released without playing. In 2024 the team signed veteran Brandon McManus, who made 24 of 30 field goals but missed all six attempts beyond 40 yards, including two in the Wild Card loss to Chicago. Rich Bisaccia resigned in February 2025, and Cam Achord was hired to oversee unit.
Key Personnel & Groups
Key personnel include GM Brian Gutekunst, who orchestrated the trade; special-teams coordinator Cam Achord; head coach Matt LaFleur; veteran kicker Brandon McManus; backup Lucas Havrisik, who holds the franchise 61-yard field-goal record; and former draft pick Anders Carlson, who never appeared in a game.
Data & Statistics: Smack vs. McManus
Trey Smack (Florida) finished his college career 53-of-64 (82.8 %) on field goals and 100-of-101 (99 %) on extra points, setting a school record with ten 50-plus-yard field goals and a longest of 56 yards (one source cites 57). He also kicked a 57-yard field goal in the Shrine Bowl and earned third-team All-SEC honors in his final season. Brandon McManus (Packers 2024) was 24-of-30 on field goals, longest 56 yards, missed all six attempts beyond 40 yards and one extra point in the postseason.
Criticism & Opposition: Assessment of Prior Kicker Decisions
The Packers have been criticized for failing to replace Mason Crosby with a consistent placekicker, for the unsuccessful drafting of Anders Carlson, and for McManus’s missed kicks beyond 40 yards, including two in the Wild Card loss to Chicago. Observers argue that reliance on short-term signings has left the roster vulnerable.
Official Statements & Responses
The Packers organization announced that the trade of both seventh-round picks enabled the acquisition of Smack, emphasizing his “big leg” and record-setting 50-plus-yard field-goal production at Florida. The statement noted that Smack will compete with McManus during training camp for the starting role.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Smack’s longest collegiate field goal, reporting both 56 yards and 57 yards. No direct quotations from Packers officials or Smack were provided in the available material, limiting insight into the team’s strategic rationale beyond the official announcement.
What’s Next: Training Camp Competition and Roster Implications
During the upcoming training camp, Smack will challenge McManus for the primary kicking position. The Packers are expected to retain only one veteran kicker on the 53-man roster; the remaining player may be placed on practice squad, exposing him to potential claims from other teams. Final roster decisions will be made before the start of the 2026 regular season.
