2026 Draft Rd 6 #35 K Trey Smack Florida

[OldSchool101]

The one thing that they might be seeing with Smack is that he’s pretty consistently in the 80%+ through 55 Yards. Matter of fact some of his misses have been uncharacteristic misses, such as inside 40 Yards.

In College, Smack was 86% FGM against SEC opponents, so competition doesn’t seem to phase him. He finished 2025 Strong by breaking the Program Record (8)50+ by Kicking a pair of 53,54 yarders for most 50+ Made ever by a Gator (10). Also very consistent 101/102 XPM career although College distance. Two games in 2025 with multiple 50+ makes and finished 83.3% from 50+ (5/6)

My thought is he’s consistently good through 55 yards, but could refine his medium grade accuracy some into the 90% area and push into that higher 80%’s overall. He missed 3 FGA in a row to start 2025 0-3 including a pair of 40 yarders.. but majorly redeemed himself after that. He finished 10/13 77% on 50+ Kicks. He never finished a season below 80% overall.

 

[Voyageur]

The one thing that they might be seeing with Smack is that he’s pretty consistently in the 80%+ through 55 Yards. Matter of fact some of his misses have been uncharacteristic misses, such as inside 40 Yards.

In College, Smack was 86% FGM against SEC opponents, so competition doesn’t seem to phase him. He finished 2025 Strong by breaking the Program Record (8)50+ by Kicking a pair of 53,54 yarders for most 50+ Made ever by a Gator (10). Also very consistent 101/102 XPM career although College distance. Two games in 2025 with multiple 50+ makes and finished 83.3% from 50+ (5/6)

My thought is he’s consistently good through 55 yards, but could refine his medium grade accuracy some into the 90% area and push into that higher 80%’s overall. He missed 3 FGA in a row to start 2025 0-3 including a pair of 40 yarders.. but majorly redeemed himself after that. He finished 10/13 77% on 50+ Kicks. He never finished a season below 80% overall.

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This will shed a little light on the percentages made at various distances. It's interesting how the percentages have gone up at several distances but haven't at others. I think one of the differences we're seeing is that kickers are given opportunities to make kicks in weather that in the past they weren't given the shot. The decisions are probably made along the lines of analytics in those cases I have a hunch. Also, no matter how good a guy can kick, if he doesn't have the leg for kickoffs, he has little chance of making it in the NFL.

 

[tynimiller]

Whatever it is, we need a kicker who can deliver. Crosby came through in Dallas and we went to a championship game. We need someone who can do that again.

I've always felt Crosby gets far far too much praise or at minimum folks remember him as some highly efficient kicker when he really wasn't.

Folks were blasting McManus last year and yet he hit on 80% of his kicks...which to be fair Crosby had 7 seasons out of his 16 with us that he didn't hit 80%.

Crosby's greatest feature was he seemed more often than not to hit the clutch kick.

 

[Voyageur]

I've always felt Crosby gets far far too much praise or at minimum folks remember him as some highly efficient kicker when he really wasn't.

Folks were blasting McManus last year and yet he hit on 80% of his kicks...which to be fair Crosby had 7 seasons out of his 16 with us that he didn't hit 80%.

Crosby's greatest feature was he seemed more often than not to hit the clutch kick.

I've always felt that Crosby missed a lot of kicks in bad weather. I can't pinpoint it through stats because the record shows that the opposition was good on a bigger percentage of kicks than he was, in Lambeau Field. Yet, Crosby made attempts where the opposition wouldn't consider it, opting instead to either punt, or run a play.

Like I say, I can't prove this, it's all personal observation.

 

[milani]

I've always felt Crosby gets far far too much praise or at minimum folks remember him as some highly efficient kicker when he really wasn't.

Folks were blasting McManus last year and yet he hit on 80% of his kicks...which to be fair Crosby had 7 seasons out of his 16 with us that he didn't hit 80%.

Crosby's greatest feature was he seemed more often than not to hit the clutch kick.

Crosby had a few hiccups, like the Bengal game that he eventually won. His rookie year was good. Then he slipped some and had that one season when MM gave him support. But overall he was consistent.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Whatever it is, we need a kicker who can deliver. Crosby came through in Dallas and we went to a championship game. We need someone who can do that again.

I was just talking with a friend about one of the Packers' playoff wins on the road at Dallas. It was years ago. With time running out, no TOs, and 30 plus yards needed for a shot at a FG, Rodgers threw a 30 plus-yard dime to TE Jared Cook right on the sideline. He caught it with both feet in and fell forward and OOBs, leaving a 50 yard FG for a walk off win.

Crosby hit the first kick but Dallas got a time out in and Crosby had to re-kick. The second shot looked at first to be going wide left, but the ball held its line for the last 10 yards and it was good. Packer playoff win on the road at Dallas. I forget the year.

Something similar happened in the last playoff loss to Chicago, with a bad result. It was just before half-time, and MLF was looking to pad the 21-3 lead with a 50 yard field goal. McManus' first kick was good, but a TO had been called by the Bearz. This time, the second kick was no good and the half ended with the Packers ahead by three possessions.

That was one of two missed FGs and a missed PAT on the night. If any of those kicks are good, the Packers have a much better shot at winning.

That loss can't be solely put on McManus, he was just the most visible culprit. With a 3-possession lead at halftime, there aren't good excuses for losing. My point, like your point milani - we need a kicker like Crosby - a guy who can hit from 50 on a regular basis and make all the makable kicks. Here's hoping Smack is that guy.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I've always felt that Crosby missed a lot of kicks in bad weather. I can't pinpoint it through stats because the record shows that the opposition was good on a bigger percentage of kicks than he was, in Lambeau Field. Yet, Crosby made attempts where the opposition wouldn't consider it, opting instead to either punt, or run a play.

Like I say, I can't prove this, it's all personal observation.

Yeah I've heard a small number of comments like Ty's - that Crosby wasn't really a great kicker when looking at the numbers.

But my personal observation was that when a FG was needed, Crosby delivered.

He was no Vinateri or Tucker, but he made his kicks and made many under a lot of pressure. He did have one meltdown game, i think it was in Detroit, where he was possessed by the yips and missed 5 or 6 kicks in a row, including a PAT or two. Otherwise, I always felt confident he was gonna make the kick.

To put it another way, I wish we had that Crosby on the roster now, or someone like him.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Crosby had a few hiccups, like the Bengal game that he eventually won. His rookie year was good. Then he slipped some and had that one season when MM gave him support. But overall he was consistent.

I'd certainly be glad if Crosby, or someone like him, was on the roster for the last few years.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Personally, I think the whole kicking situation this offseason has been poorly managed by the Packers and that starts with what they did with McManus.

If the Packers had enough confidence in keeping Havrisik to be their kicker or keep him for competition, why give Brandon McManus the $1M bonus in March? I know a million is just couch cushion money to NFL GM's, but if he really wasn't in Gute's future plans, he should have just outright cut McManus BEFORE being contractually required to pay him the million.

Did Gute think that drafting Smack solved everything and that was why he cut McManus? What changed between paying McManus the money and drafting Smack? There were no practices or games. Had Smack not been available to trade two 7th round picks to get, would McManus still be on the team? Or would Gute have just signed another undrafted FA kicker and still cut McManus?

Anyway, everything Gute has done tells me that he has a low confidence level in Havrisik being his kicker of the future. Everything that Smack has done since being drafted, has been relatively unimpressive. Personally, I think a team can get into its own head on kickers. Very few kickers don't go through slumps. The good ones get themselves out of those slumps quickly and go back to kicking with confidence. It seems to be the young ones that take longer to adjust and figure things out. Patience with a kicker isn't a strong point with fans or coaches it seems. But jumping from one to another, trying to find "Mr. Perfect"? Just doesn't happen often.

I almost would have rather seen Gute have shown more patience with McManus. Not drafted Smack and just see what happens. Will be interesting to see who is kicking on opening day, all the games in between and the final Packer game of the 2026 season.

Agreed. I was really shocked when McManus was cut. Yeah he had a terrible game against da Berarz, but he seemed to make a lot more than he missed, and was certainly more consistent than Carlson and whoever else they put out there.

When he cut NcManus, Gluten acted like he knew Smack was a sure thing. That can't be true. Makes me wonder if there were some personal issues with McM.

 

[tynimiller]

Yeah I've heard a small number of comments like Ty's - that Crosby wasn't really a great kicker when looking at the numbers.

But my personal observation was that when a FG was needed, Crosby delivered.

He was no Vinateri or Tucker, but he made his kicks and made many under a lot of pressure. He did have one meltdown game, i think it was in Detroit, where he was possessed by the yips and missed 5 or 6 kicks in a row, including a PAT or two. Otherwise, I always felt confident he was gonna make the kick.

To put it another way, I wish we had that Crosby on the roster now, or someone like him.

Fact is Crosby was mostly clutch, and to many that is all they remember. I loved Crosby, but in fairness he was an above average kicker overall and a borderline great kicker in clutch moments.

I mean it is a little unfair to only look at numbers absolutely, but also to dismiss them also would be as well.

Crazy coincidence between how Anders Carlson and Mason Crosby started their careers:

Kicker A
27 for 33 overall
3 of 5 from 50+
4 of 8 from 40-49
20 for 20 from 39 and in.



Kicker B
31 for 39 overall
3 for 5 from 50+
9 of 14 from 40-49
19 for 20 from 39 and in

 

[mradtke66]

Personally, I think the whole kicking situation this offseason has been poorly managed by the Packers and that starts with what they did with McManus.

If the Packers had enough confidence in keeping Havrisik to be their kicker or keep him for competition, why give Brandon McManus the $1M bonus in March? I know a million is just couch cushion money to NFL GM's, but if he really wasn't in Gute's future plans, he should have just outright cut McManus BEFORE being contractually required to pay him the million.

Did Gute think that drafting Smack solved everything and that was why he cut McManus? What changed between paying McManus the money and drafting Smack? There were no practices or games. Had Smack not been available to trade two 7th round picks to get, would McManus still be on the team? Or would Gute have just signed another undrafted FA kicker and still cut McManus?

I don't know if this played optimally or not, but it reads to me like risk mitigation and then professional courtesy to McManus.

At the conclusion of the season, we had McManus and signed Havrisik for competition. At the time of March's bonus, he was still our number 1 kicker.

We then draft Smack. It is all but assured that Smack will be our kicker so they released him to try and stick with another team. This is the professional courtesy part.

Could they have saved the 1 million? Possibly. I also think that if we didn't draft Smack, McManus sticks this year.

 

[gopkrs]

jmo but I thought McManus screwed us by saying he was good to go when he wasn't. Can't trust him. Still, the coaches imho should have known better. About the million dollars, I don't have a clue. Maybe he could have walked without it? And I think it happened before we drafted Smackeroo.

 

[tynimiller]

jmo but I thought McManus screwed us by saying he was good to go when he wasn't. Can't trust him. Still, the coaches imho should have known better. About the million dollars, I don't have a clue. Maybe he could have walked without it? And I think it happened before we drafted Smackeroo.

You're 100% correct.

The million dollars happened in March per his contract.

Smack was obviously drafted after that.