The 2024 NFL season is getting closer to being a reality for fans, as we have only 39 days left until the New Orleans Saints Week 1 bout against the Carolina Panthers. As we continue to count down the days until this first matchup for the Saints, we will look at the corresponding jersey number to the remaining days, which today is kicker Charlie Smyth, who comes to the Saints from Northern Ireland.
Smyth takes over the number from Lou Hedley who held it last season, and the number has a relatively long history, with it’s most notable wearer being former defensive back Brett Maxie, a quality player for the Saints back in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
With that said, let’s take a look at Smyth’s background up to this point, as well as what we should or can expect from him this upcoming season.
- Name (Age): Charlie Smyth (22)
- Position: Kicker
- Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
- Relative Athletic Score: N/A
- 2024 salary cap hit: $795,000
- College: St Colman’s College & St Mary’s University College
- Drafted: Signed via NFL International Pathway Program
- NFL experience: Rookie
Charlie Smyth is one of the more intriguing players on the Saints roster this upcoming season, as he was signed to the team this offseason through the International Pathway Program. He signed a three-year contract with the Saints in March after competing at the NFL Scouting Combine where he hit 12 of 16 field goal tries, and made 8 of 10 at his pro day with one connecting from 60 yards out.
He previously played Gaelic football for the Down County team, as well as the Down’s Ulster Under-20 championship team. Gaelic football is somewhat of a cross between American football and rugby, but Smyth’s skillset there as a goalkeeper led to him hoping to get an NFL tryout as early as July 2019. He will be competing with last year’s placekicker Blake Grupe, who certainly had his struggles as a rookie. We will see where the position battle takes us, but as of right now, Smyth has a phenomenal opportunity to win a starting job in the NFL.
