The Green Bay Packers are heading into the offseason with a big decision looming at a position that often flies under the radar-kicker. After a rollercoaster year, the team is weighing its options with veteran Brandon McManus, and all signs are pointing toward a potential changing of the guard.
McManus was brought in to stabilize a position that had become a bit of a revolving door. And for much of the 2024 regular season, he did just that.
He connected on 20 of 21 field goal attempts, good for a 95.2% clip, and was flawless on extra points, going 30-for-30. On paper, that’s the kind of consistency every team craves.
But the numbers don’t tell the full story.
McManus struggled when it came to longer kicks, going just 6-for-12 from 40 yards and beyond. For a veteran with his pedigree, that’s a red flag-especially in today’s NFL, where field position and long-range accuracy can swing games.
And then came the postseason. In the Packers' wild-card loss, McManus missed two field goals and an extra point.
In a game of inches, those misses loomed large.
The timing of it all complicates matters. McManus signed a three-year extension last offseason, so moving on from him isn’t a simple decision. But Green Bay may have already tipped its hand.
Earlier this week, the Packers signed Lucas Havrisik to a futures/reserve contract. That move may not make headlines, but it’s significant. Havrisik filled in for McManus during the regular season and made quite the impression.
In Week 6, he stepped in and went a perfect 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points. He followed that up in Week 7 with another clean outing, including a career-long 61-yard bomb against the Cardinals. That’s the kind of leg strength that gets coaches' attention.
After McManus returned from injury, Havrisik was sent back to the practice squad, but not forgotten. He got another shot in Week 11 against the Giants, though that outing was rockier-he missed two extra points.
Still, the Packers didn’t cut ties. Instead, they kept him around, and now they’re giving him a real shot to compete for the job in 2026.
The writing may be on the wall for McManus. His contract includes an out for 2026, and the financial hit-$3.33 million in dead cap-wouldn’t be crippling. He’s also due a $1 million roster bonus early in the new league year, so if the Packers are going to make a move, it’ll likely come soon.
McManus has been around long enough to know how this works. He’s still a capable kicker and should draw interest from other teams in need of a veteran presence. But in Green Bay, the tide seems to be turning.
Havrisik is younger, cheaper, and has already shown flashes of a big leg under pressure. If he can clean up the inconsistencies, the Packers might just have their kicker of the future.