2026 Draft Rd 6 #35 K Trey Smack Florida

[Heyjoe4]

It is a possibility. In 2024 we sign the rookie from the Titans after we tried out Joseph and our 2033 kicker. We finally signed McManus a number of weeks in to beat the Texans. But we had no safety valve.

I'm pretty sure that Havrisik will go to the PS. I think he cleared waivers once and I expect he would clear them again - sctuslly I don't even know if he has to do that.

Are PSs built each year with players who have cleared waivers? Or if they were on the PS at the end of a season, does that protect them the next season. I don't know but I'm sure someone does. Thanks.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yup. It is still the Wild West out there. Some programs were well out ahead of others on both. Seems like those programs are battling with tanks and destroyers, while others are just learning how to shoot a flintlock. I predict over the next 5 years, a HUGE gap between the top teams and the bottom tier in talent, success and ability to even keep certain programs afloat.

The portal and the way NIL is handled will result in a pretty locked in Top 10 every year, maybe Top 15. The level of talent will be stark with the teams that can't compete to attract players.

I also expect players who are driving up revenue at their college receive some kind of compensation. There just has to be a better way.

 

[mradtke66]

I'm pretty sure that Havrisik will go to the PS. I think he cleared waivers once and I expect he would clear them again - sctuslly I don't even know if he has to do that.

Are PSs built each year with players who have cleared waivers? Or if they were on the PS at the end of a season, does that protect them the next season. I don't know but I'm sure someone does. Thanks.

There is no real protection. Players are free agents before offered PS slots. So they are cuts or randos at home on th couch.

At th conclusion of the season, teams can offer futures contracts, basically offer PS players to be a part of next seasons 90 man roster.

 

[OldSchool101]

There is no real protection. Players are free agents before offered PS slots. So they are cuts or randos at home on th couch.

At th conclusion of the season, teams can offer futures contracts, basically offer PS players to be a part of next seasons 90 man roster.

Just a tidbit. While all that might be true. Havrisik would be signed in 24 hours or a short nap on that Couch. He also can’t be cut he’s not vested so the could be waived to move to PS.

I would think the safer thing to do would be just find a spot on the Roster until we figure out what’s what?

 

[gopkrs]

There is no real protection. Players are free agents before offered PS slots. So they are cuts or randos at home on th couch.

At th conclusion of the season, teams can offer futures contracts, basically offer PS players to be a part of next seasons 90 man roster.

I think that once a player clears wavers and goes on the PS; there is a way to make it so a few players that you designate cannot be poached. Maybe you have to pay them more or something.

 

[Half Empty]

I think that once a player clears wavers and goes on the PS; there is a way to make it so a few players that you designate cannot be poached. Maybe you have to pay them more or something.

I'm sure there are nuances to it, like almost everything else, but the bottom line is that teams can 'protect' four players on the PS from being signed away.

 

[OldSchool101]

I'm sure there are nuances to it, like almost everything else, but the bottom line is that teams can 'protect' four players on the PS from being signed away.

I like that. For me that list would start with either a QB3 or 1 or 2 specialists on Teams. Such as a LS or Kicker. Especially in postseason where you don’t want Christian McCaffrey doubling at QB like he did a few years ago.

 

[mradtke66]

I think that once a player clears wavers and goes on the PS; there is a way to make it so a few players that you designate cannot be poached. Maybe you have to pay them more or something.

Correct. Once a player makes it to the PS, you can protect 4 players on any given week. But you have to get them there first.

 

[mradtke66]

Just a tidbit. While all that might be true. Havrisik would be signed in 24 hours or a short nap on that Couch. He also can’t be cut he’s not vested so the could be waived to move to PS.

You are technically correct, he would be waived not cut. If anything, that makes releasing him riskier. Another team puts in a claim and tada he’s a raider or Viking. Not that it’s necessarily likely.

It’d also not significantly different since he’s playing on a near minimum deal.

I would think the safer thing to do would be just find a spot on the Roster

Maybe, but carrying two kickers is probably wasteful and most other teams have a developmental kicker. If he were that hot of a commodity, someone else would have signed him in the off season.

 

[OldSchool101]

Maybe, but carrying two kickers is probably wasteful and most other teams have a developmental kicker. If he were that hot of a commodity, someone else would have signed him in the off season.

Sure. I get that.

The other aspect of point I’m trying to make has to do with timing. A PlaceKicker being a FA on the open market all offseason is one thing and I can agree with that. Here we’re talking about final cutdowns and another team grabbing guy off what’s really a moments notice window. After final Roster cuts you’re a new team starting over at PK with Game 1 on the line next week?

Also the the more I ponder this I’m thinking the only way Havrisik would make Wavers is he’s deemed the lesser Kicker of 2 and that on a struggling team at Kicker. So this fits with your point @mradtke66 if Havrisik was in such high demand he’d already be gone in some format. Reality is he’s important to us because he’s been here and getting acclimated now. Yet he’s still a PK who has barely 1/2 of a single season of actual experience

 

[OldSchool101]

I’m putting my money on Smack stays. Unless he’s just awful through Preseason and Camp. I have a hard time buying we’ll just waste a pair of 7th rounders and move on.
Moving to Lukas would at minimum be highly questionable or unusual in a Rookie season imo. Especially if that exchange at PK is for a newer K who’s 79.2% FGM and just 83.9% on XPA (Havrisik).
5 misses inside 33 yards on 31 tries? For me consistency is more important than making a 61 yard try imo. Now A 60+ leg is a nice bonus, but only after accuracy is established inside 50 yards. Give me a guy who’s 88-92% inside <50 yards and hits 95%+ XPA first and has at least a range from =55.

 

[Heyjoe4]

There is no real protection. Players are free agents before offered PS slots. So they are cuts or randos at home on th couch.

At th conclusion of the season, teams can offer futures contracts, basically offer PS players to be a part of next seasons 90 man roster.

Thanks 66. By offering a futures contract a team can protect and keep players they like - well, as long as the player is in agreement.

I can see the logic of a PS player at least trying FA.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Maybe, but carrying two kickers is probably wasteful and most other teams have a developmental kicker. If he were that hot of a commodity, someone else would have signed him in the off season.

Agree

I highly doubt the Packers would protect 2 kickers in their final cutdown to 53 in Sept. Why do I say that? First, that means cutting another player at another position and exposing them to waivers. Second and more importantly, neither of the 2 Packer kickers that are currently on the roster (Smack & Havrisik) have proven themselves to be solid NFL kickers. I would even go as far as to say that neither of them, at this moment, would be viewed as a top 32 kicker in the NFL.

There are 32 teams in the NFL and each will have their "favorite" kicker of the 1-2 that practiced and played in the preseason. Unless both of the Packers kickers just start nailing everything in practice and preseason games, 1 of them will join the other 20-30 kickers that are unemployed after cutdowns. Yes, the Packers will want to carry a 2nd kicker on their PS, but they will have plenty to choose from to fill that spot in Sept.

No offense to Packer fans or other NFL fans, but I think people can get so attached to their own team and its players, that sometimes logic doesn't hold true when evaluating "their teams" players.