Brian Gutekunst explains why Packers took kicker Trey Smack earlier than expected

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst addressed how the team ended up with kicker Trey Smack in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and he framed the decision as something that did not match the organization’s original expectations for the board. In a one-on-one interview with Cheesehead TV, Gutekunst described the team’s mindset going into the draft process, suggesting they expected Smack to come off the board earlier on Day 3 rather than later where Green Bay could capitalize.

The Packers ultimately acquired Smack by using trade capital. According to the report, Green Bay sent two seventh-round picks to add the new kicker, a move that emphasizes how deliberately the team valued the position change it was making. In the same conversation, Gutekunst tied the selection to roster cleanup at the position, indicating the kicker decision was part of a broader plan rather than a last-minute preference.

Green Bay’s pivot required clearing salary and roster spot considerations. The report notes the Packers released veteran Brandon McManus after previously paying him a $1 million roster bonus for the 2026 season. Releasing a veteran after a bonus is paid is always a notable expense, and it indicates the team was comfortable absorbing that decision to reset the role for the future.

The Packers also moved on from another kicker option, Lucas Havrisik. The report states that Havrisik was released as well, and it references his moment in 2025 when he set a franchise record for the longest made field goal as an injury replacement for McManus. That context matters because it underscores the Packers did not simply keep their emergency option as the long-term answer, even after a standout performance.

For fans, the practical takeaway is that Green Bay’s kicker situation is being treated as an intentional part of team-building, not a passive roster management task. Gutekunst’s comments, as characterized in the interview coverage, point to an organization willing to act quickly when the right player becomes available, even if that timing differs from what it originally anticipated on draft weekend.

What to watch next is how Smack fits into the Packers’ early-preseason and offseason plan, and whether the team’s willingness to spend two late picks and move on from prior incumbents translates into a clear, steady role by training camp. The report does not include detailed performance expectations or internal timing for the transition, so the on-field follow-through is likely to become the next major indicator of whether this gamble feels prescient or purely opportunistic.