Full Breakdown
Packers Release Veteran Kicker Brandon McManus After Drafting Rookie Trey Smack
5/9/2026, 11:06:50 PM
Decision to Replace the Veteran Kicker
On May 8, 2026 the Green Bay Packers released 34-year-old veteran kicker Brandon McManus. The move followed the selection of Florida kicker Trey Smack with the 216th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, as reported by ESPN senior insider Adam Schefter. The team framed the cut as clearing a roster spot for Smack, who is now slated as the long-term solution at kicker.
Background & Context
Mason Crosby’s 16-year run (2007-2022) left Green Bay without a clear successor at kicker. The team signed Brandon McManus in 2024; he posted a 95.2 % field-goal rate (20/21) and made all three attempts beyond 50 yards. After a three-year, $15.3 million extension, his 2025 output fell to 80 % (24/30) and he missed two field goals and an extra point in the 31-27 playoff loss to Chicago. Florida’s Trey Smack arrived with an 83 % collegiate conversion rate, ten 50-yard makes and mentorship from former Pro Bowl kicker Matt Stover.
Data & Statistics
McManus’s 2024 field-goal accuracy was 95.2 % (20/21) and dropped to 80 % (24/30) in 2025, with two missed field goals and an extra point in the Bears playoff loss. Smack posted an 83 % career rate (53/64) and ten 50-yard makes, including a 5-for-6 stretch in 2025. The release saves the Packers $945,097 in cap space for 2026.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Cap-savings figures differ across reports. ESPN’s Adam Schefter cited an immediate $945,097 saving; other outlets reported a $1 million saving and noted a potential $2.611 million saving if the cut waited until after June 1. Dead-money estimates range from $4.333 million split over 2026–2027 to $2.666 million in 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
GM Brian Gutekunst said the move adds competition and reflects confidence in Smack. Matt Stover noted he taught Smack “the fundamentals, the absolutes.” Mason Crosby praised Smack’s productivity. McManus called the playoff performance “the biggest disappointment of my career.”
Criticism & Opposition
Lombardiave warned that “it’s always a gamble to go with an unproven rookie over a veteran like McManus.” Some fans argued McManus’s 2025 output still ranked near league average and deserved a chance to compete.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What I do with them is I teach them the fundamentals, the absolutes, the things you have to do with kicking, and when you miss left and when you miss right, it's a deviation from those particular things,” — Matt Stover, former Pro Bowl and Super Bowl champion kicker
- “This is the biggest disappointment of my career,” — Brandon McManus, veteran kicker, Green Bay Packers
- “Everyone's going to compare this draft to the Anders Carlson one, but this kid's productivity speaks for itself,” — Mason Crosby, franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Green Bay Packers
- “After drafting Florida kicker Trey Smack in the sixth round last month, the Packers released veteran kicker Brandon McManus today, per source.” — Adam Schefter, ESPN senior NFL insider
