With the drafting of Trey Smack in the 6th round of the 2026 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers are showing just how much the franchise values stability at the kicking position.

The Packers have had four general managers since 1992, and from 1992 to 2022, Green Bay had used just four kickers in regular season games, the fewest of any team in the NFL. In those 31 seasons the four kickers were: Chris Jacke (1989-1996), Ryan Longwell (1997-2005), Dave Rayner (2006), and Mason Crosby (2007-2022).

Packers Kickers 1989-2022

Stability at the kicker position has been one of the biggest strengths of the Green Bay Packers organization since Wolf took charge of the franchise.

Since Crosby’s departure after 2022, the Packers are still searching for his long-term successor. By trading up in the 6th round of the draft, Brian Gutekunst is hoping Trey Slack is that guy.

Meanwhile, it’s been three seasons of searching for Crosby’s replacement with the only stable kicker being veteran Brandon McManus. However, the 11-year pro will turn 35-years old before the start of the 2026 season and is coming off a season where he was 6 for 12 on field goals 40 yards or longer.

McManus also finished the last two seasons missing field goals in the two Packers’ wild card losses. McManus missed a 38-yard field goal in the loss to the Eagles and missed two field goals and a PAT kick in the loss to the Bears. The two missed kicks in the 4th quarter against the Bears left four points on the board in a four-point loss to the rival Bears.

The 6th round has been the favorite round of the Packers in finding their rookie kicker going back over 30 years to Jacke, the team’s kicker on the Super Bowl XXXI championship team. Jacke, Crosby, Anders Carlson, and now Smack have all been 6th round picks.

So far the Packers are 2 for 3 in finding a long-term kicker in Round 6 with the goal of Smack being the third.

In 2023, the Packers went through some growing pains with Carlson as the rookie was 20 of 20 on field goals under 40 yards, but was 7 of 13 on field goals 40 yards or longer and was 34 of 39 on PAT kicks.

What likely put the writing on the wall for Carlson was missing a 41-yard field goal in the 4th quarter of the Packers’ 24-21 divisional playoff loss to the 49ers. Carlson also missed at least one kick (FG or PAT) in 10 of the final 12 games of the 2023 season.

Packers Kickers 2023-2025

The Packers are hoping Smack's growing pains and success are more reminiscent of Longwell and Crosby. The Packers won 13 games in the rookie seasons of both Longwell (1997) and Crosby (2007).

Longwell left after nine seasons as the team’s all-time leading scorer. The youth movement at kicker worked again with Crosby, as he broke Longwell’s scoring record and was the team’s kicker for 16 seasons.

CHTV NFL Draft analyst Newt Westen analyzes the Smack pick.