Kickers taken in the NFL draft rarely have long-term success with their original teams

Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 | 8:47 a.m. GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers rookie kicker Trey Smack’s preseason performance suggests he has the tools to contribute for several years with the team that selected him. But the sixth‑round pick from Florida faces a steep challenge. Historically, there is little correlation between a player’s draft position and his long‑term success as a kicker. Only three of the 16 kickers drafted between 2016 and 2023 remained with their original clubs for at least three full seasons. The sole kicker still