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Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.

The Green Bay Packers officially called into question the roster security of a $15 million veteran with one of their boldest moves of the 2026 NFL draft.

During April 25’s final day of the draft, the Packers traded both of their seventh-round selections (Nos. 236 and 255 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for the final pick of the sixth round (No. 216), which they used to draft Florida kicker Trey Smack.

Smack — the only kicker picked in the 2026 draft — made 53 of his 64 career field goals (82.8%) and all but one of his 101 extra points during his time with the Gators, setting a program record with 10 made field goals from 50-plus yards away in his three seasons.

“Obviously, Trey was the highest-rated kicker we had on our board,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said April 25. “Gotta give our scouting department a ton of props, a ton of credit, man. They really worked hard. I thought they did an outstanding job. Obviously, it’s a position that’s important when you’re talking about scoring points in this league, and just like any other position, you can never have enough competition.”

Smack’s trade-up selection also directly puts veteran placekicker Brandon McManus on notice about his spot atop the Packers’ depth chart heading into the 2026 NFL season.

Brandon McManus Had Rollercoaster Season in 2025

McManus already seemed to be on the hot seat heading into the 2026 NFL offseason.

After signing a three-year, $15.3 million contract extension last March, McManus had a rough start to the 2025 season. He missed six field goals in his first seven performances for the Packers, including one miss in three separate 3-point losses against Cleveland (Week 2), Carolina (Week 9) and Philadelphia (Week 10). He also missed three games due to a recurring quad injury that hobbled McManus into the second half of 2025.

McManus regained his poise during Week 12’s win over Minnesota and closed out the regular season with a lights-out clipping on field goals (13-for-13) and extra points (16-for-16), but his kicking issues resurged during the Packers’ wild-card playoff collapse.

McManus ended up leaving seven points on the table for the Packers in their 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears, missing a 55-yard field goal that would have extended Green Bay’s lead to 21 points at halftime and a field goal and extra point each within the final seven minutes of the game. Afterward, McManus dubbed it an “embarrassing performance.”

Now, the Packers seemed committed to keeping McManus as their primary placekicker when they paid him his $1 million roster bonus in March, but they would only incur a dead-cap charge of about $2.66 million if they released him during training camp. His release would also clear about $2.61 million in cap space for the Packers in 2026.

In other words, McManus is firmly on the chopping block if he fails to perform.

Trey Smack Has Traits to Beat Out Brandon McManus

The Packers’ decision to trade up for Smack at the bottom of the sixth round does not guarantee that they will crown him their new primary placekicker for the 2026 season.

Even still, Smack will have a golden opportunity to win a Day 1 starting job heading into his rookie NFL season if he meets or exceeds expectations over the next several months.

Smack showcased his big leg and consistent ball placement during his years at Florida, but the high trajectory of his kicks is also an underrated aspect of his kicking game that resulted in him having just one career field goal blocked in college. He is also a good-sized kicker (6-foot-1 and 188 pounds) who won’t shy away from tackles on coverage.

The big thing working against him is McManus’ experience. The 34-year-old veteran has made 297 of 362 field goal attempts (82%) over his 186 career games, missing only nine attempts from fewer than 40 yards out. He may not have delivered for the Packers in their big-game moment against the Bears, but he is familiar with high-pressure kicks.

If Smack struggles to make a compelling case in camp and McManus rebounds from his 2025 woes, then the Packers may have no choice but to let the sixth-round rookie walk.