Kicker Competition: Former Down Goalkeeper-Turned-Kicker To Sign With New Orleans Saints, Compete For Starting Job

Watch out Blake Grupe, the New Orleans Saints are brining in kicker competition in Ireland's Charlie Smyth via the NFL's International Player Pathway program.

Mar 3, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NFL International Player Pathway place kicker Charlie Smyth / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Training camp may be moving to sunny California, but that does not mean that the offseason program will be a relaxing walk on the beach for any player. The New Orleans Saints are all about creating, driving and fostering competition as a means of furthering development. Very few players are immune from that approach and the Saints proved it yet again on Friday signing new kicker Charlie Smyth, who comes from a very unique background.

Smyth is a part of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) initiative which creates opportunities for athletes from outside the United States to have a shot at making an NFL roster. Smyth is the latest to move one step closer to making good on that shot. Per his agent Patrick Sheehy, Smyth is signing a deal with the Saints after impressing at the team's Local Pro Day.

Now, he will enter the team's offseason program as the primary competition for incumbent kicker Blake Grupe. Grupe unseated long-time specialist Wil Lutz at the position last offseason. After New Orleans traded Lutz to the Denver Broncos, Grupe went on to hit 30 of his 37 field goal attempts, was a perfect 40/40 in point after touchdown attempts and handled kickoffs for the team as well.

Blake Grupe kicks a field goal against the Chicago Bears. / Wesley Hitt/GettyImages

After going 18/23 on field goals to start the season, Grupe wrapped up the year drilling 12 of his last 14 attempts. A lot of questions circulated early in the year about whether or not the Saints had made the right choice going with the undrafted rookie over their established kicker, but the team's patience paid off down the stretch. However, the success he found late in the season does not guarantee a roster spot in 2024. Which is further evidenced by the signing of Smyth.

Kicker competitions are nothing new for New Orleans. The team typically holds on to a pair of kickers and a pair of punters throughout camp. Some of that approach could be because no team wants to exhaust their kicker's leg in the offseason, so having the ability to rotate helps keep things fresh. Make no mistake about it, though. If Smyth continues his impressive trajectory, there will be a competition to track over the course of camp.

Smyth is the former Down Goalkeeper hailing from Mayobridge which is located in Northern Ireland. He is a part of the inaugural class of Irish athletes to come through the IPP program. Working his way through the program also led him to preparing alongside Tadhg Leader. Leader is an Irish-born Rugby player who made the transition to American Football playing with the Candadian Football League and European League of Football. Leader also spent a brief time on loan with the New Orleans Gold rugby team.

Finding kickers through unconventional pathways has become a much more common practice in the league. New Orleans could be the next team to find success pursuing those means. Judging by his converted 63-yard field goal that is sweeping social media, Smyth is likely to have some impressive moments in camp. Consistency, however, will be the greatest deciding factor of his future. This will be one to watch.