The Green Bay Packers are shaking things up in their special teams department, aiming for a fresh start this season. They've brought in wide receiver and return specialist Skyy Moore on a one-year deal and tapped Cameron Achord as the new special teams coordinator, following Rich Bisaccia's departure in February.
Yet, one position remains unchanged: kicker. Veteran Brandon McManus is still holding the fort despite a bumpy 2025 season, where he converted only 80% of his field goals (24-of-30). This marks a noticeable dip from his impressive debut year in Green Bay, where he nailed 95.2% of his attempts (20-of-21).
Despite McManus' struggles, the Packers haven't cut ties with him just yet. However, his position isn't entirely secure. Green Bay is reportedly eyeing the upcoming kicker draft class, with a particular interest in Iowa's Drew Stevens.
In a chat with Justin Melo from NFL Draft on SI, Stevens revealed that he had a virtual meeting with the Packers and received an invite to their local pro day. "We went over film together. It was a blast discussing the technical aspects of kicking," Stevens shared.
Stevens had a standout career at Iowa, scoring 352 points-the second-highest in the school's history. Last season, he hit 97.6% of his extra points (41-of-42) and 78.6% of his field goals (22-of-28). Over his college career, Stevens maintained an 80% field goal percentage.
Drafting a kicker might seem surprising for the Packers, especially since their last attempt in 2023 with Anders Carlson didn't quite pan out. But Stevens' performance at Iowa and McManus' recent struggles make this an intriguing possibility. Stevens has a powerful leg, which could be enticing for Green Bay, considering McManus' issues from 40-plus yards last season (6-of-12, including 3-of-7 from 40-49).
Stevens, on the other hand, was 7-of-10 from 40-49 yards and 4-of-6 from 50-plus yards last season. Throughout his four-year stint, he went 20-of-29 (68.9%) from 40-49 yards and 12-of-19 from 50-plus (63.2%), with his longest being a 58-yarder last season.
The Packers' interest in a kicker is certainly worth noting. It might just be them doing their homework, but given the precarious nature of the kicker position, any new addition could compete for the starting role.
General Manager Brian Gutekunst has options, including Lucas Havrisik on a futures contract. Bringing in another contender could spark an open competition, ensuring the Packers have the best man for the job come Week 1.