Saints Sign Charlie Smyth To Multiyear Deal
DECEMBER 27: Smyth’s new pact does not contain any guaranteed money, per Schefter’s colleague Katherine Terrell. Even at the league minimum (just over $1MM in 2026; $1.2MM the following year), though, it certainly represents a notable raise compared to his recent practice squad compensation.
DECEMBER 20: Northern Ireland native Charlie Smyth took over as the Saints’ kicker in late November. Three weeks later, the Saints are clearly satisfied with the results. They’ve signed Smyth to a three-year contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
This is the second three-year pact for Smyth, who joined the Saints in March 2024 as part of the NFL’s international player pathway program. He played Gaelic football before moving to the United States.
Smyth spent all of last season and most of this year on the Saints’ practice squad. Blake Grupe, who’s now a Colt, served as New Orleans’ kicker until the team waived him on Nov. 25. The Saints brought in veteran Cade York on a practice squad deal at the time, but they instead turned to Smyth as Grupe’s replacement.
While it’s a small sample of work, Smyth has been more accurate than Grupe. The Saints cut ties with Grupe after he made just 18 of 26 field goals over 11 games this year. Smyth has connected on 4 of 5 field goals and all five extra point tries through three games.
The 24-year-old immediately made his mark in his debut in Week 13. Although the Saints lost to the Dolphins, Smyth hit a 56-yarder and also pulled off a successful onside kick. He went on to nail a game-winning 44-yarder in an upset over the Panthers last Sunday. The Saints waived York on Thursday, leaving Smyth as the only kicker in the organization.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/25
Here are today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for the penultimate weekend of the regular season:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: LB Jay Higgins IV
Buffalo Bills
- Signed from practice squad: TE Keleki Latu
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
- Waived: WR Mecole Hardman Jr.
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: G Luke Newman
- Elevated: CB Dallis Flowers, WR JP Richardson
- Waived: DT Jonathan Ford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross III, CB Bralyn Lux
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: TE Sal Cannella, QB Bailey Zappe
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: TE Drake Dabney, QB Clayton Tune
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
- Signed from practice squad: DT Chris Wormley
- Elevated: C Jimmy Morrissey, G Josh Sills
- Placed on IR: WR Anthony Gould, TE Andrew Ogletree
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: G Jerome Carvin, S Juan Thornhill
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: OL Andrew Meyer
- Signed from practice squad: WR Theo Wease Jr.
- Placed on IR: WR Dee Eskridge, CB Isaiah Johnson, DT Benito Jones
- Elevated: LB Derrick McLendon, OL Josh Priebe
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Ronnie Bell, TE Treyton Welch
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: DE Elijah Chatman, C Bryan Hudson, S Raheem Layne, K Ben Sauls
- Elevated: TE Zach Davidson, RE Dante Miller
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: CB Tre Brown, G Marquis Hayes, WR Quentin Skinner
- Elevated: QB Hendon Hooker
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: CB Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: T Jack Driscoll, CB D’Shawn Jamison
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Eric Kendricks, TE Brayden Willis
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, T Amari Kight
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: OLB Jason Pierre-Paul
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
- Placed on IR: CB Marcus Harris
With Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox both dealing with injuries, the Bills add Latu to the 53-man roster for depth. To make room, Buffalo has parted ways with the veteran, Hardman, just a week after activating him from injured reserve.
A number of players are being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third and final time on their current contracts. This is the case for Flowers in Chicago, Zappe in Cleveland, Sills in Indianapolis, Driscoll in Pittsburgh, and Kight in Seattle. If their respective teams wish to see them appear in another game this year, they will need to be signed to the 53-man roster, as was done with Wormley in Indianapolis and Chatman in New York this week after they exhausted their three elevations already this year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/26/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves and some standard gameday practice squad elevations for Saturday:
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return from IR: DT Sam Roberts
Denver Broncos
- Signed off Chargers’ practice squad: C Sam Mustipher
- Waived: G Calvin Throckmorton
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on IR: LB Kristian Welch
Houston Texans
- Signed from practice squad: S K’Von Wallace
- Elevated: DT Leki Fotu, G Sidy Sow
- Waived: CB Ameer Speed
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: T Foster Sarell, S Marcus Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: TE Moliki Matavao
- Placed on IR: TE Foster Moreau
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
A day after placing starting center Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve and commending backup Alex Forsyth for starting in his place, Denver adds a bit more depth and experience at the position. Forsyth, a seventh-round pick out of Oregon last year, has only five starts in his first two years of play, but the team seemed to think he filled in well during yesterday’s victory of over the Chiefs. Mustipher, once a full-time starter in Chicago, should add depth and a potential starting option in case Forsyth’s inexperience starts to show.
Williams is being elevated for the third and final time by the Chargers this season. If Los Angeles wants to see him play in another game this season, they’ll need to sign the veteran safety to the 53-man roster.
Saints WR Chris Olave Contemplated Retirement During 2024 Offseason
The 2024 season saw Chris Olave suffer a pair of concussions. He has dealt with at least four over the course of his NFL career, one which began in 2022. 
Olave was sidelined for the Saints’ final eight games last season after suffering his latest concussion. Consultation with specialists took place and the former first-rounder managed to return to practice late in the campaign, but he did not see any game action. During the offseason, Olave thought about hanging up his cleats.
“It was a tough time last year,” the fourth-year wideout said (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell). “I was only 24 years old, contemplating retirement, especially with the head injuries, but I prayed about it… I just gave it another try, another chance. And it’s been a great year.”
Indeed, Olave has managed to play in all 15 games for New Orleans in 2025. He has set new career highs in receptions (92) and touchdowns (eight). The Ohio State product could also record a new personal best in yardage, having topped 1,000 for the third time. A continued spell as the Saints’ focal point on offense could be in store if an extension is reached; talks on that front have taken place since at least the start of the campaign.
For now, Olave is on track to collect $15.49MM in 2026 on his fifth-year option. A trade to a contending team was a talking point leading up to the deadline, but like Alvin Kamara Olave expressed a desire to remain in New Orleans. The team wound up retaining both of them and dealing Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks as a rental. Adding at the receiver spot could therefore be an offseason priority, but Olave’s healthy campaign should set him up for a new Saints pact.
New Orleans has won three straight games, and the combination of first-year head coach Kellen Moore and rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has shown encouraging signs in recent weeks. Olave figures to remain a key presence on offense for at least 2026, but his decision to continue playing has him positioned for a spell with the Saints spanning beyond that point.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Several dominoes have fallen so far in Week 16 with respect to the NFL’s playoff picture. The Cowboys have been eliminated while the Patriots, Seahawks, Bears, Eagles and 49ers have locked in a postseason berth.
The final two weeks of the campaign will determine the remaining playoff spots, but they will also sort out the top of the draft order. Six teams remain within striking distance of the No. 1 pick, although the Titans’ win on Sunday greatly weakened their chances of landing the top selection for the second year in a row. One contest in particular will be worth monitoring next week with respect to draft positioning.
The Giants and Raiders each sport a record of 2-13. They will play each other in Week 17, meaning the loser of that contest will have the inside track for the No. 1 pick. New York already has a head coaching vacancy while Pete Carroll is in danger of going one-and-done in Vegas. Plenty of incentive for winning will exist for Carroll in particular, but the outcome of that game will have major implications on the draft order.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-13)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
- Cleveland Browns (3-12)
- New York Jets (3-12)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
- Tennessee Titans (3-12)
- Washington Commanders (4-11)
- New Orleans Saints (5-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
- Miami Dolphins (6-9)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
- Detroit Lions (8-7)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
- Houston Texans (10-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- Chicago Bears (11-4)
- New England Patriots (12-3)
- Denver Broncos (12-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
Saints TE Taysom Hill Unsure Of Future
Sunday marked the end of the Saints’ home schedule for 2025. For a number of veterans, Week 16 could therefore represent their final game played in New Orleans. 
That may well be the case for Taysom Hill. The veteran tight end (among many other positions/roles over the years) is a pending free agent, and it remains to be seeen what will happen in his case. When speaking after the game, Hill reflected on his Saints tenure and acknowledged (via John Hendrix of NewOrleans.Football) he is unsure of what the future holds.
“As I was driving to the stadium today, you start to think about the last nine years and what it’s meant to me and my family,” the former UDFA said (via Hendrix). “This city and stuff. I think for me personally that you try to take it all in.”
Hill has played each of his 121 combined regular and postseason games as a member of the Saints. The 35-year-old could add another two to that total as the campaign comes to an end. Beyond that point, it will be interesting to see how team and player proceed in this case. An ACL tear limited Hill to just eight games in 2024, and he produced only 95 scrimmage yards this season entering Sunday’s game.
The Saints have Juwan Johnson under contract through 2027, and fellow veteran tight end Foster Moreau could be retained as depth at the position this coming offseason. New Orleans has other options at the TE spot as well, and it would come as a surprise if Hill were to be kept in the fold merely as an emergency quarterback or strictly to play on special teams. As such, the team’s rebuilding efforts could lead to a parting of ways shortly.
Hill set a career high with 33 catches and 291 yards in 2023; he added 401 yards on the ground that year while scoring six total touchdowns. In the event he reaches free agency, suitors could look to the BYU product as a depth addition on offense. For now, though, Hill’s attention will be aimed at the final two weeks of the season while the Saints aim to continue what is now a three-game winning streak. After that, it is unclear if retirement will receive consideration or if Hill will look to continue his career in New Orleans or elsewhere next season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL, including gameday elevations for tomorrow’s Week 16 slate:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed from practice squad: CB C.J. Henderson
- Waived: WR/KR Jamal Agnew
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, OLB Khalid Kareem
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Josh Tupou, LB William Kwenkeu
- Placed on IR: LB Teddye Buchanan (story)
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: WR Mecole Hardman
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Isaiah Simmons, OL Saahdiq Charles
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross, CB Bralyn Lux
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: QB Sam Ehlinger, S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OL Kingsley Eguakun, TE Giovanni Ricci
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Marlon Davidson, CB Alijah Huzzie
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: S Marcus Williams, G Branson Taylor
Miami Dolphins
- Signed from practice squad: CB Ethan Robinson
- Placed on IR: DB Elijah Campbell
- Elevated: OL Kion Smith, WR Theo Wease
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed from practice squad: CB Dwight McGlothern
- Elevated: LB Sione Takitaki
New York Giants
- DT Elijah Chatman, K Ben Sauls
New York Jets
- Elevated: DB Tre Brown
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: T Easton Kilty, TE Moliki Matavao
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB Daryl Porter Jr., T Jack Driscoll
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Martin
Tennessee Titans
- Signed from practice squad: DT Cam Horsley
- Waived: DT Shy Tuttle
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
Agnew’s time in Atlanta has come to an end after 11 appearances with his third career team. The veteran did not see any usage on offense, but he handled 45 total returns between kickoffs and punts this season. Agnew totaled 855 yards in that capacity, but he will now hit the waiver wire. Provided he clears, the 30-year-old will become a free agent.
The same is true of Tuttle. A veteran of 105 games, he has made just one start so far this season. Tuttle has only handled a 25% snap share on defense, so he is unlikely to generate much interest as a free agent. Nevertheless, a depth role could await him on a contender down the stretch.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Jammie Robinson
- Placed on IR: WR KhaDarel Hodge
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: OL Chase Lundt
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: DL Brenton Cox Jr.
- Placed on IR: RB MarShawn Lloyd (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Designated for return from IR: LB Jalen McLeod
Las Vegas Raiders
- Claimed off waivers (from Steelers): DT Brodric Martin
- Waived: DE Jahfari Harvey
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: K Charlie Smyth
- Placed on IR: WR Devaughn Vele
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: TE E.J. Jenkins, CB Brandon Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed from practice squad: S J.T. Gray
- Waived: LB Nick Jackson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: TE Lawrence Cager
Cox will give the Packers another pass-rushing option after they lost superstar Micah Parsons to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 15. An undrafted pickup in 2023, Cox impressed last season with five tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble in just seven games. However, he hasn’t factored in this year after suffering a groin injury in the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Lions. Now returning from a 13-game absence, Cox could have an opportunity to make an impact down the stretch.
Vele, a seventh-round pick a year ago, racked up 41 catches, 475 yards, and three touchdowns during a 13-game rookie season in Denver. The Broncos sold high on the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder in late August, shipping him to the Saints for a 2026 fourth-rounder and a 2027 seventh-rounder.
Vele, who’s now dealing with a shoulder injury, will wrap up his first season in New Orleans with 25 receptions, 293 yards, and two scores in 13 contests. While those are underwhelming numbers, Vele was far more productive in recent weeks. He combined for 19 grabs, 239 yards, and a TD in his last four games of the year.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/18/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Jamil Muhammad
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Kaevon Merriweather
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Tanner McLachlan
- Released: C Josh Kaltenberger
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Elijah Cooks, RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Tanner Conner
With Devin Neal landing on IR today and Alvin Kamara still sidelined with a sprained MCL, the Saints have added a veteran running back to their practice squad. Nyheim Miller-Hines was released by the Bills after missing the 2023 campaign following a watercraft accident, and the RB has bounced around the league since. He spent most of the 2024 campaign in Cleveland, and he spent the first chunk of the 2025 season with the Chargers, appearing in two games.
The former fourth-round pick made a name for himself as a pass catcher with the Colts, including a pair of seasons where he hauled in 60-plus receptions. While he may eventually work his way to the Saints active roster, he may be hard pressed to pass the likes of Audric Estime and Evan Hull on the depth chart.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/25
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Waived: G Calvin Throckmorton
Indianapolis Colts
- Designated for return from IR: S Daniel Scott
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: LB Nick Hampton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: WR Kevin Austin
- Waived: K Cade York
- Placed on IR: RB Devin Neal
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed from Panthers’ practice squad: LB Jeremiah Moon
- Waived: DT Brodric Martin
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: WR Dareke Young
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, OT Amari Kight
After earning the first three starts of his career, Devin Neal‘s rookie season has come to an end. The Saints running back landed on injured reserve today with a hamstring injury, ending his season early. The sixth-round pick filled in for Alvin Kamara recently, with the rookie compiling 185 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in his three starts.
Elsewhere in New Orleans, Cade York‘s stint with the team has come to an end. The veteran joined the Saints practice squad last month as a potential replacement for Blake Grupe. The team ended up opting for Charlie Smyth to take over as their primary kicker, with the second-year pro converting four of his five field goal attempts and all five of his extra points in three appearances.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks will welcome back Dareke Young for tonight’s game against the Rams. The fourth-year receiver landed on injured reserve in early November thanks to a quad injury. Known mostly for his special teams prowess, Young has had an occasional role on offense during his stint in Seattle, hauling in four catches for 72 yards.