The Green Bay Packers have signed WR Julian Hicks, OL Lecitus Smith (luh-SEET-us) and WR Dimitri Stanley and released CB Anthony Johnson and DL Deandre Johnson and waived/injured WR Thyrick Pitts (thigh-rick). The transactions were announced Monday by General Manager Brian Gutekunst.
Hicks (6-2, 201), a rookie, played for Central Michigan University in 2018, the University of Akron in 2019 and for the University at Albany from 2022-23. He appeared in seven games in 2018, recording 27 receptions for 313 yards (11.6 avg.) and a team-best four touchdowns. In 2019, Hicks played in eight contests and posted 21 receptions for 225 yards (10.7 avg.) and two TDs. He saw action in 23 games in 2022-23, registering 72 receptions for 1,139 yards (15.8 avg.) and 17 TDs. Hicks will wear No. 81 for the Packers.
Smith (6-3, 314), a second-year player out of Virginia Tech, was originally selected in the sixth round (No. 215 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He played in 10 games as a rookie for the Cardinals, opening two games at right guard. In 2023, he spent time on the practice squads of the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles. Smith played in 45 games with 38 starts for the Hokies and was a two-time All-ACC selection (2019-20). He will wear No. 61 for the Packers.
Stanley (6-0, 200), a rookie, began his career at the University of Colorado (2018-21) before finishing at Iowa State (2022-23). He registered 70 receptions for 820 yards (11.7 avg.) and four touchdowns in his four seasons with the Buffaloes. and was named to the SB Nation All-Pac-12 freshman team as a redshirt freshman in 2019. Stanley played in 23 games with nine starts for the Cyclones, compiling 48 receptions for 559 yards (11.6 avg.) and a TD. He will wear No. 19 for the Packers.