After parting ways with Brandon McManus last spring, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton brought in a familiar face to replace him.
Payton traded a seventh-round draft pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for Wil Lutz, reuniting with his old kicker. Lutz struggled early in the year before bouncing back to finish the season 30-of-34 on field goals.
The 29-year-old kicker is now scheduled to become a free agent in March and he’s one of the Broncos’ most notable pending free agents.
Lutz played on a team-friendly $1.7 million deal last season because the Saints were still paying part of his salary. Now with leverage gained as a free agent, Lutz will be able to command a pay raise from the Broncos.
KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis estimates Lutz could receive a multiple-year deal in the range of $3.5 million to $4.5 million per season. That would put him in the top half of the league’s highest-paid kickers, but outside the top ten.
(It’s worth noting that the above number seems to be a projection from Klis, not a report of the kicker’s demands.)
Placing a one-year franchise tag on Lutz would pay him $5.67 million in 2024. That’s unlikely to happen as Denver will likely aim to sign him to a cheaper, multi-year contract.
Unless the Broncos give Lutz a contract extension before March 11, he will be allowed to begin negotiating with other teams on that date. If Denver wants to bring him back for the 2024 season (and beyond), the team would be wise to get a deal done before March 11.
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