The Green Bay Packers have officially started their off-season program. Many of their rostered players have already spent some time in Green Bay working with coaches and are preparing for the upcoming 2026 NFL season.
As the next few weeks trudge on, there will be multiple position battles that fans and analysts will be watching. Among these is the cornerback room, where second round pick Brandon Cisse is expected to compete for a starting job over one of the Packers’ incumbent defenders at the position. Similarly, the Packers will keep an eye on who will be the second starting pass rusher alongside Lukas Van Ness.
Micah Parsons, unfortunately, will probably miss the first few weeks due his recovery from a torn ACL. When he returns, he will, of course, be the primary starter with Van Ness starting opposite him.
The Green Bay Packers kicker competition is the most important one to watch
During the 2026 NFL Draft, the Packers shocked many fans by trading both of their seventh round picks to get back into the sixth round to select kicker Trey Smack. While surprised, most fans were ecstatic with the move because of the struggles Brandon McManus had last year.
After having a 95.2% field goal percentage in 2024 with the Packers, McManus was given a three-year contract extension to remain with the team. Last year, though, he made just 80% of his field goals and partially cost Green Bay multiple wins.
Heading into 2026, the kicker position battle is going to be the most important. As mentioned, the pass rusher position battle will not matter in the long run once Parsons returns. Cornerback, too, is going to be interesting, but will presumably result in a better product in 2026 compared to 2025.
Kicker, meanwhile, is a position with which Green Bay as struggled to find consistency ever since parting ways with Mason Crosby. McManus was the Packers’ third starting kicker in two years when he signed, and now Green Bay is looking at Smack as possibly being the fourth.
Smack made 100 of 101 career extra point attempts at Florida and had a career field goal percentage of 82.8%. He was automatic inside 30 yards and performed well on kicks 50 yards or longer. If he can be more consistent from 40-49 yards, the Packers could finally have the long-term answer at kicker they have been missing.
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