Sean Payton hasn't stopped bringing in reinforcements from his old shop.
The Denver Broncos have traded for kicker Wil Lutz from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round pick, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday, per a source. The teams later announced the news.
Lutz, 29, has spent his entire playing career with the Saints and was among the best kickers in the NFL during Payton's time there. In 2019, the Saints signed Lutz to a five-year extension.
"New Orleans, thank you for the best 7 years of my life," Lutz wrote in a post Tuesday on social media.
"Being able to rock the Black and Gold has been an absolute honor. We started a family here, made life long friends, and made memories we'll never forget. This city will always be a special place to us. Proud of everything we accomplished in our 7 years together….Pro Bowl, 4 Division champs, and leaving with the 2nd most points in team history. New Orleans, I'll always be apart of the WhoDatNation⚜️! Excited for the next chapter of our lives….Broncos Country….Let's Ride"
The Broncos have cycled through a few kickers this camp. Following the Lutz trade, the Broncos are releasing Brett Maher, who also previously kicked for Payton in New Orleans. Maher had missed two of his six field-goal attempts in the preseason this year, missing a 47-yarder and having a 52-yard try blocked. Elliot Fry, who was also in the Denver kicking battle, missed one of his two preseason FG tries.
Lutz was a perfect 4 of 4 on field-goal attempts this preseason, but he was embroiled in a battle with rookie kicker Blake Grupe, who made five of his six tries. Grupe's only miss was a 60-yard attempt.
Although Lutz missed a career-high eight FG tries last season (23 of 31), he hit a career-best 60-yard field goal to tie the game late against the Vikings and was a perfect 30-for-30 on extra-point attempts.
The Broncos traded for the rights to Payton, who was a TV analyst for FOX last season, in January. After his arrival, the Broncos added several players who played for Payton in New Orleans, including trading for tight end Adam Trautman and signing several others.
Denver wasn't finished dealing on Tuesday after acquiring Lutz. The Broncos later swung a trade with the Eagles, sending TE Albert Okwuegbunam and a 2025 seventh-round pick to Philadelphia for a 2025 sixth-rounder.
Okwuegbunam, a 2020 fourth-round pick, caught 54 passes for 546 yards and four touchdowns in three seasons in Denver. He has one year remaining on his rookie contract.
With Albert O's departure, the Broncos' TE room will feature Trautman and Greg Dulcich, while Philly's will be fronted by Dallas Goedert.
