Charlie Smyth

Smyth is one of the better stories in the league, having grown up in Northern Ireland as an NFL fan and Gaelic football goalkeeper (a strictly amateur sport). The Saints signed him in March 2024 via the International Player Pathway program and kept him on the practice squad until late last November, when Blake Grupe's struggles created a job opening. New Orleans played well over its final six games, giving Smyth plenty of kicking volume in the process, though his accuracy was merely acceptable rather than convincing (12-of-16 on field-goal attempts, 13-of-13 on PATs). Two of his four misses came inside 50 yards, so it wasn't surprising when the Saints signed UDFA Mason Shipley in April to provide competition for the placekicker job. Smyth should still be considered the favorite, and his booming leg hints at upside to become a fantasy starter if the Saints take advantage of a favorable schedule that features 11 indoor games. Read Past Outlooks