The Green Bay Packers may have bigger roster issues to sort through, but ESPN’s Seth Walder thinks the cleanest fix could be the one between the uprights.
With the 2026 NFL trade deadline approaching, Walder pointed to Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader as the player Green Bay should target. His case is simple: the Packers’ offensive line has been a problem, but the kicker spot may be the easiest place to make a meaningful change.
“Who should they target? Colts K Spencer Shrader,” Walder writes.
“The biggest issue for Green Bay this season has been its offensive line. But the most easily fixed problem might be at kicker, with sixth-round rookie Trey Smack struggling.”
That’s where the conversation gets interesting. The Packers used a sixth-round pick on Smack, but the rookie has had a rough year. He’s 11 of 16 on field goals, which works out to a 68.8 field goal percentage, and he’s also 16 of 19 on extra points.
Shrader, by contrast, has been far steadier. He’s made 19 of 21 field goals for a 90.5 percentage and is 14 of 15 on extra points. If Indianapolis is willing to listen on trade talks, Walder believes Green Bay should be ready to move.
Kicker trades are rare, especially in the middle of a season, but the Colts are expected to entertain offers on a number of players, and Shrader could be one of them. He’s in a contract year, which only adds to the possibility that he could be available.
If Smack stumbles again in Week 9, particularly in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the idea gets even louder. Walder’s argument is that the Packers would be getting an immediate upgrade without having to pay a steep price, and that makes Shrader a more attractive target than an offensive lineman.
In Other News...
Packers Walk Into A Patriots Moment That Will Dominate This Week
The Week 9 trip to New England already had a little extra shine for the Packers, and now it has a broadcast wrinkle to match. Tom Brady is set to call a Patriots game at Gillette Stadium for the first time in his broadcasting career when Green Bay visits Foxborough, adding another layer of attention to a matchup that was already going to draw plenty of eyes.
Brady said he is excited to return to the stadium where so many of his biggest moments unfolded, while Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and others around the organization have been taking stock of the occasion. The conversation around the game has also drifted toward Rob Gronkowskis upcoming Hall of Fame induction, giving this week in Foxborough a distinctly Patriots flavor even before the teams take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Trade Buzz Just Raised The Stakes For This Defense
With the NFL trade deadline drawing near, Green Bay has started to look like a team that could be more than a bystander. The Packers have reason to explore help on defense, especially with Micah Parsons expected back from injury, and the idea of adding another proven edge presence has only sharpened the conversation around how aggressive they want to be.
One name that has surfaced in that discussion is Khalil Mack, a veteran pass rusher who would give Green Bay another disruptive piece if the Chargers decide to listen. Los Angeles has stumbled this season, which only adds to the intrigue around whether a player of Macks caliber could become available, and for the Packers the appeal is obvious: a chance to deepen a defense that could get a lot more dangerous if the right move is made. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Jacobs Puts Packers On Edge As NFL Wait Continues
Josh Jacobs situation has taken another turn as the Packers wait for the NFLs next move. The running back is already back in the middle of a difficult legal and league process after missing six games on the commissioner-exempt list following his May arrest, and recently released police records have now added fresh allegations from three women involving physical and verbal abuse.
For Green Bay, the uncertainty is the real issue. Jacobs has said he believes in his legal defense and expects to stay on the field for the rest of the season, but the NFL investigation is still ongoing, leaving the team to monitor a case that could continue to hang over its backfield. If the league eventually acts, any suspension would likely be applied against the games he has already missed, which only adds another layer to a situation the Packers would rather not have lingering into the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]