6 days ago
Saints backup Charlie Smyth outkicks multiple pros at Kohl's Kicking Camp
The New Orleans Saints have had quite a kicker dilemma over the past few seasons, from Blake Grupe to Wil Lutz, to Brett Maher, Brian Johnson, and others. It has been a revolving door ever since Lutz's injury and eventual trade. Grupe has been able to hold onto the job for two full seasons now, and while he has had a few hiccups at times, overall, he has been a reliable option. A field goal success rate of 83.8% and an extra point rate of 97.3% indicate a relatively strong performance.
The newcomer to the room, however, is Charlie Smyth, an International Pathway Program product who got an opportunity in the 2024 preseason and made the most of it with a game-winning field goal. Now, however, he is competing with some of the league's best at kicking beating them all?
In a recent report from Nick Underhill of he shared that Smyth won the first-day kicking competition at the Kohl's Kicking Camp. He went up against multiple high-level NFL placekickers, such as Daniel Carlson, Jack Fox, Austin Seibert, Dustin Hopkins, Evan McPherson, and more at this camp. Outkicking them head-to-head is enormously impressive, especially given this is only the start of his second season in the NFL.
Hopefully, over time, he can continue to hone in on his abilities and really put up a fight for the starting role. Frankly, from what he has displayed so far in his career at this point, he certainly could make a run at it this preseason if he showcases the leg power he has in practices. This may be a training camp battle to watch in 2025.
