Brandon McManus Might Replace Aaron Rodgers on Kicks Next Year
Kicker Brandon McManus was due a $1 million roster bonus on March 13th
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 28: Brandon McManus #17 of the Green Bay Packers looks on from the sideline during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Field on September 28, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images As we wrote earlier this offseason, the Green Bay Packers had an opportunity to move off of kicker Brandon McManus , if they really wanted to. Based on their actions on Friday, they don’t want to.
On March 13th, McManus was due a $1 million signing bonus. Usually, the timing of signing bonuses can be a catalyst for a release (or contract restructure) if teams don’t want to keep a player at his cash or cap price for the upcoming season. There was no release of McManus reported, nor were there reports about a restructure, so we can just assume that McManus received that $1 million.
If he didn’t, we would have heard of it by now. At every opportunity, general manager Brian Gutekunst has shown support for McManus this offseason, stating that there will be a competition in 2026, only because there’s always competition at the position. Usually, the number two kicker for the Packers in camp has been an international player pathways player.
At the moment, the only other kicker on Green Bay’s roster is Lucas Havrisik, who played in three games for the Packers in 2025 when McManus was injured. Because that $1 million bonus has now been paid to McManus, a release (or trade) of the kicker will now come with a $4. 33 million dead cap charge in 2026 (at least pre-June 1st).