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TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 7: Charlie Smyth #39 of the New Orleans Saints warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This Saturday, the New Orleans Saints will open the 2026 NFL preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Caesars Superdome.
The player to watch has endured a rough training camp to this point, and another poor performance this weekend could force New Orleans to explore other options at kicker: Charlie Smyth.
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Consistency has been the biggest issue for the 25-year-old Irishman throughout training camp, making Saturday’s preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars an important opportunity for the young kicker.
Smyth has shown the ability to make impressive kicks, and his leg power has never been the question, but stringing those successes together has been the challenge. For a player competing to become the Saints’ long-term answer at kicker, the team needs to see more reliability as the preseason gets underway.
That makes Saturday’s performance particularly important. Another inconsistent outing could force New Orleans to seriously consider whether it has enough confidence in him heading into the regular season. Preseason games provide guys like Smyth with opportunities to solidify their roster spots, and he will need to take advantage of his chances.
New Orleans already has Tanner Brown behind Smyth, giving the team another option internally. However, if neither kicker can establish themselves, the Saints could eventually turn their attention toward the veteran market.
There are still plenty of opportunities for Smyth to change the conversation. A strong preseason could quiet concerns and allow him to maintain his position as the favorite. But if the struggles continue, the Saints may have little choice but to explore alternatives. For Smyth, Saturday is the first opportunity to show that he can be trusted when the games begin to count.
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