
Packers Bet on Trey Smack as Kicker of the Future After McManus Exit
The Green Bay Packers released veteran kicker Brandon McManus to give sixth-round pick Trey Smack the kicking job, saving about 945,097 in cap space now and signaling Smack as Crosby’s successor. Smack, a Florida product, has strong 50+ yard kicking credentials and a mentorship link to Crosby via former NFL kicker Matt Stover, who trained both Crosby and Smack. McManus had been solid in 2024 (20 of 21 FGs) but dipped in 2025 (24 of 30) and was 0-for-2 on field goals plus 2-for-4 on extra points in a wild-card loss to the Bears, prompting Green Bay to move on. The Packers hope Smack’s development and Stover-guided fundamentals deliver long-term stability at a high-variance position.










