In light of the upcoming offseason, could the Green Bay Packers consider releasing kicker Brandon McManus?
The Green Bay Packers lacked an NFL-caliber kicker in their ranks.
Brandon McManus was lacking a permanent residence.
The past two months have seen this sudden marriage turn into an endless honeymoon.
Now, the issue at hand is whether they can remain together in 2025 and beyond.
McManus, the Packers' standout kicker who signed with Green Bay on Oct. 16, has netted 14 out of 15 field goals (93.3%) and ranks fourth in the NFL for accuracy. He's also made all 23 of his extra points, resulting in a 97.4% success rate on all kicks (37 out of 38).
However, McManus will become a free agent at the year's end. Despite the promising partnership, free agency is never a certainty.
"I've really enjoyed it here," McManus expressed. "This place is so nostalgic. It's been great being here and being a part of this tradition. But when it comes to free agency and such matters, a lot depends on factors beyond my control. We'll have to see what happens."
Since McManus signed on, the situation has significantly improved for Green Bay.
Following the 2022 season, the team parted ways with Mason Crosby. Anders Carlson missed more kicks than any player in the league in 2023. Brayden Narveson was no better, converting just 12 out of 17 field goals in the first six weeks of 2024 before being released.
McManus has brought stability back to the squad's most vulnerable position and is a key reason the Packers sit at 10-4, heading into their game against New Orleans (5-9) on Monday night.
McManus delivered the game-winning field goal in both his first two games as a Packer, and he's currently on a streak of nine consecutive successful kicks.
Moreover, McManus is on pace for the second-highest field goal percentage in team history, only trails Mason Crosby, who made all 16 of his field goals in 2020, for a better percentage-wise.
"I'm glad he's here," Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said recently. "He's making us all better, and I believe he has a lot of football left in him."
The question remains, will that good football continue to be in Green Bay, or not?
The 33-year-old McManus is arguably the most sought-after free agent kicker this upcoming offseason. The other current prospects comprise Tennessee's Nick Folk and Arizona's Matt Prater, both 40, Carolina's Eddie Pineiro (88.6% career), New England's Joey Slye (81.4% career), and Detroit's Michael Badgley, who spent the 2024 season on injured reserve.
Ten kickers are currently earning over $5 million a year, and it may take a deal in that range to retain McManus in Green Bay.
During a lengthy interview last week, McManus continually expressed his gratitude to the Packers for giving him a chance. He was also asked if this meant he would wish to re-sign with Green Bay first.
"I appreciate the question," McManus said. "But right now I'm fully focused on this season. I was grateful to Green Bay for giving me the opportunity to return and play. The first two games were a blast, and the locker room is one of the coolest places in the world. I got the chance to meet so many great individuals and play as a team. I haven't been to the playoffs since I won the Super Bowl in 2015, so that's my primary objective and what I want to achieve and help this team reach its goals. When I signed here, I figured I might contribute to their goals."
McManus, now in his 11th season, has successfully converted 81.9% of his career field goals. He has a 90.5% success rate from inside 50 yards.
Mid-way through an outstanding 2024 campaign, McManus should be high on the list of desired free agents this offseason.
However, some teams may not forget that two female flight attendants filed a lawsuit against McManus, accusing him of sexual assault during a flight to London while playing for Jacksonville in 2023. A lack of sufficient evidence was found to sustain charges of assault against McManus, according to the NFL's investigation, which allowed the Packers to sign him.
McManus has been an outstanding citizen, teammate, and elite kicker in Green Bay since his arrival. Many of his teammates are hoping he stays in Green Bay for the foreseeable future.
"He's been unbelievable," defensive tackle Kenny Clark said about McManus. "He's given us so much stability at this position. Whenever he enters a game, you know it's going to turn out well. I hope he's in Green Bay for a long time."
As for McManus, he is adamant that it's still too early to make such predictions.
"It's a special place here," McManus said. "It's an honor to represent this organization. Many wear their loyalty to this team on their sleeves and strive to play well. If it works out here, that would be great. But for now, I have personal business to attend to for the rest of this season."
Brandon McManus, the Green Bay Packers' standout kicker, has expressed his enjoyment of being in Green Bay, but the future of his stay with the team remains uncertain due to free agency. Rich Bisaccia, the Packers' special teams coordinator, believes McManus has greatly improved the team and has a lot of football left in him.
Despite the allegations of sexual assault from two female flight attendants against McManus during his time with Jacksonville, he has been a valuable asset to the Green Bay Packers, delivering several game-winning field goals and consistently performing well.
Anders Carlson, who missed more kicks than any player in the league in 2023, and Brayden Narveson, who converted just 12 out of 17 field goals in the first six weeks of 2024, were both unable to provide the stability that McManus has brought to the Packers at their most vulnerable position.
