Charlie Smyth waived by New Orleans Saints ahead of new NFL season

Charlie Smyth has been waived by the New Orleans Saints before the new NFL season, the club confirmed on Sunday. The 25-year-old kicker, a former Gaelic footballer from Mayobridge in Northern Ireland, had been the incumbent entering the pre-season.

Smyth took over from Blake Grupe in November and was signed to a three-year contract last season. As a starter last year he made 12 of 16 field goals and was successful on each of his 13 extra-point attempts. Smyth told BBC NI this month that competition for places in the NFL is "just the way it is in this business" and that he would not be taking any such signings "personally". His pre-season form was mixed as the Saints assessed their kicking options.

In the off-season Smyth was competing with two-time All-Pro Daniel Carlson and former Louisville Kings kicker Tanner Brown for the Saints' kicking role. Brown missed a 39-yard field goal attempt in the pre-season loss to the Los Angeles Rams, while Smyth was off target from 52 yards in the defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Carlson joined the Saints after those pre-season matches and has since been the leading candidate for the job.

In the Saints' final pre-season match against the Dallas Cowboys on Friday, Smyth converted one extra point. Carlson kicked two field goals, including the winning points from 53 yards, in New Orleans' 27-24 victory. The outcome of that game strengthened Carlson's standing on the roster.

Because Smyth entered the NFL via the international player pathway (IPP), the Saints could retain him on their practice roster without him counting toward the 16-player limit for IPP players. Smyth could also be considered by other teams following his release. Teams have until Monday at 17:00 BST to sign released players to their rosters, after which they can begin to add players to their practice squads.

Carlson was named second-team All-Pro in 2021 and first-team All-Pro in 2022. He has not missed a game in the past seven seasons, and his 81.5% success rate from field goals last year was his lowest since 2019.

The Saints' decision does not necessarily end Smyth's NFL journey, and he remains eligible for practice roster retention or interest from other clubs. New Orleans begin their regular season away to the Detroit Lions on 13 September.