The Denver Broncos, worried about Brett Maher’s reliability, have traded for a new kicker.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Broncos have acquired Will Lutz in a trade with the New Orleans Saints. The move reunites Lutz with former Saints head coach Sean Payton, in his first season in Denver.
Mike Klis of 9News Denver reported the Broncos have released Maher.
The Broncos had been concerned about Maher, who signed with the team in late July. He kicked himself out of a job with the Dallas Cowboys earlier this year by missing an unprecedented four extra points in the team’s playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Maher missed his first field goal attempt in the preseason, a 47-yarder, then had another blocked in the opener. But he made all four field-goal attempts and eight PAT tries after his debut.
Lutz has an 84.6% career field goal percentage, 22nd on the NFL career list. And not to throw Maher under the bus with this stat, but Lutz has only missed seven extra point attempts in his six-year career.
NFL fans approved of the move, with some predicting big things from the strong-legged Lutz in Denver’s thin air.
monster leg out in denver, might net a 70 yarder this year.
— scotchysnipes (@scotchysnipes) August 29, 2023
@Broncos solve their kicking issues. Payton is comfortable with Lutz
— PA Sports 4 Life (@EricDavies01) August 29, 2023
Going to break the league record with that leg at Mile High
— Ben Feller (@HowUBenFeller) August 29, 2023
More Kicker news!? The year of the kickers 😅
— LaQuan Jones (@RealDealFantasy) August 29, 2023
Not a bad trade; especially for Lutz. Not sure he would have won/kept the role with the Saints.
— XsPundit (@XsPundit) August 29, 2023
[Ian Rapoport, NFL Network]; Mike Klis, 9News Denver]
