Tag: Brandon McManus

Former Commanders kicker Joey Slye lands with Jaguars

Washington’s kicker since 2021, Slye has a new home.

Former Washington kicker Joey Slye has found a new home. On Monday, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network revealed that Slye had signed a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Slye essentially trades places with Brandon McManus, who replaced him with Washington last week. McManus spent last season with the Jaguars after nine seasons with the Denver Broncos.

The former Virginia Tech star first entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants in 2018. New York released him before the season, and the Carolina Panthers picked him up. Slye spent two seasons in Carolina before he was released in 2021.

In the season’s first two months, the Texans and 49ers had kicker injuries, each signing Slye as a replacement. He was waived in November after San Francisco kicker Robbie Gould returned.

One week later, he signed with the Commanders, where he served as the kicker for more than two seasons.

Slye has one of the NFL’s strongest legs but often battled consistency issues, particularly with extra points. Since 2019, Slye has missed 18 PATs, including eight in Washington. He has made 82.3% of his career field goals.

With Slye gone, punter Tress Way will have a new long snapper and kicker in 2024.

Jaguars sign Commanders K Joey Slye to 1-year deal

After Brandon McManus joined the Commanders last week, the Jaguars are signing the kicker he replaced.

After losing their kicker to the Washington Commanders in free agency, the Jacksonville Jaguars are picking up the player he replaced. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Jaguars have signed former Commanders kicker Joey Slye to a one-year deal.

Slye, who turns 28 next month, began his career as an undrafted signee with the New York Giants and made stops with the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, and San Francisco 49ers before joining Washington in 2021.

In two seasons and change with the Commanders, Slye made 56 of his 66 field goals and 65 of his 73 extra point tries. During the 2023 season, Slye was 19 of 24 on field goals and 32 of 35 on extra points. Slye made three of his five attempts from 50-plus yards, including a 61-yarder he made in October.

Shortly after the tampering period of free agency began last week, the Jaguars struck a deal with Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz on a three-year deal. But before the end of the day, Lutz changed his mind and opted to stay in Denver.

Following the departure of McManus, the only kicker on the Jaguars’ roster was Riley Patterson, the team’s 2022 kicker who returned in February on a reserve/futures deal.

Terms of Slye’s contract haven’t yet been revealed, but it would factor into the NFL’s compensatory formula if it reaches a certain pay threshold — likely upwards of $3 million next year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Updated list of Jaguars set to become 2024 free agents

The Jaguars have re-signed a handful of their impending free agents, but there are still several players set to hit the open market.

In addition to the six new Jacksonville Jaguars set to be added to the roster, the team has been working to bring back a few of their own free agents.

Ezra Cleveland, Jeremiah Ledbetter, and Daniel Thomas all signed new contracts with the Jaguars and both Blake Hance and D’Ernest Johnson will reportedly soon follow. Jacksonville also used the franchise tag to keep Josh Allen from hitting the market.

While the Jaguars hope they can add Calvin Ridley to that list, for now he and several of his 2023 teammates are set to hit the market when free agency officially begins Wednesday. Here’s every Jaguars player with an expiring contract who is still set to become a free agent:

With the Ravens’ Devin Duvernay set to join the Jaguars’ roster, Agnew’s time with the franchise is clearly over. He even said his goodbyes on social media Tuesday. In three seasons with the team, he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl, scored two return touchdowns, caught five touchdown passes, and recorded a rushing touchdown.

It was a quick hi and bye for Barkley, who signed with the Jaguars a day after Christmas in 2023 amid a string of injuries for Trevor Lawrence. He was active for Jacksonville’s Week 17 game against the Carolina Panthers and took six snaps in garbage time.

Blackson signed with the Jaguars just before the start of the 2023 season and had a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Despite being on the field for just 30 percent of the Jaguars’ defensive snaps, he managed to fall on three fumbles.

The Jaguars seemed to remain optimistic about the 2020 first-round pick all the way to the bitter end. But after four seasons, Chaisson has just five career sacks.

Claybrooks missed the entire 2023 season due to a domestic battery court case that’s still ongoing. While there was some confusion about whether his contract would toll over due to the lost year, Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union reports that Claybrooks will be an unrestricted free agent as of Wednesday.

After signing a three-year contract with the Jaguars as an undrafted rookie in 2018, Herndon re-signed with the team on one-year deals in 2021, 2022, and 2023. For the fourth straight offseason, he entered this March as an impending free agent. In six seasons with Jacksonville, Herndon has appeared in 83 career games and has three interceptions, nine tackles for loss, and 32 passes defended.

The Jaguars reportedly decided not to tender Johnson, who was set to be a restricted free agent this offseason. That’ll allow the special teams ace to hit the market after spending two seasons in Jacksonville.

McManus spent one season with the Jaguars and is reportedly headed elsewhere. The veteran kicker agreed to a one-year deal with the Commanders on Monday night.

Moore joined the Jaguars in 2022 and spent the entire year on the practice squad, then he spent all of 2023 on the team’s injured reserve. As an exclusive rights free agent, it’d cost next to nothing for Jacksonville to keep him, but there’s been no indication yet that they’ve extended a qualifying offer.

Quarterman, a fourth-round pick in 2020, played out the final year of his rookie contract in 2023. In four seasons with the Jaguars, he 54 career tackles, one tackle for loss, and one very consequential forced fumble.

Ridley is easily the biggest name on this list and the top receiver on the free agent market. In his first season with the Jaguars following a 2022 trade from the Falcons, Ridley recorded 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. Jacksonville is reportedly working to bring back the receiver and he “currently prefers to return” to the Jaguars, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

No player in Jaguars history has played more consecutive games with the team than Shatley. After signing with the team as a free agent in 2014, he signed new contracts with the Jaguars in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Shatley started six games for the Jaguars in 2023.

The Jaguars picked up Van Lanen in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2022, but he’s appeared in just 71 snaps over two years with the team. As a restricted free agent, the Jaguars could tender the lineman, but there hasn’t been an indication that they’ve decided to do so.

Commanders signing Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus to 1-year deal

With the departure of Brandon McManus, the only kicker on the Jaguars’ roster will be Riley Patterson.

The Washington Commanders have a deal in place to sign Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus to a one-year, $3.6 million deal when he becomes a free agent Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

McManus, 32, was scooped up by the Jaguars during the 2023 offseason shortly after he was released by the Denver Broncos. In his only season with Jacksonville, McManus made 30 of his 37 field goals, although he was perfect inside of 40 yards and five of his seven misses were from 50-plus yards.

After making 23 of his first 25 field goals on the year, McManus frustrated Jaguars coach Doug Pederson when he missed five of six kicks during a rough stretch late in the season.

While there’s been little indication that the Jaguars intended to re-sign the impending free agent, the writing on the wall for McManus became crystal clear Monday when the team agreed to terms on a deal with Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz. While the deal eventually fell through, Jacksonville clearly intends to move in a different direction at the kicker position.

With McManus set to join Washington, the only kicker on the roster will be Riley Patterson, the team’s 2022 kicker who was added back to the roster in February. It seems unlikely that the Jaguars envision Patterson being their starting kicker in 2024, though.

There’s a chance that the contract for McManus is rich enough to play a factor in the awarding of compensatory draft picks. Given the amount of additions the Jaguars made Monday, it appears unlikely they’ll be in position to get a 2025 pick, though.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Commanders agree to terms with Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus

The Commanders have moved on from Joey Slye.

The Washington Commanders are moving on from kicker Joey Slye. Late Monday, during the opening day of the NFL’s legal tampering period, Washington agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran kicker Brandon McManus.

The deal is worth up to $3.6 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

McManus, 32, comes to Washington after spending last season with the Jaguars. McManus connected on 30 of 37 field-goal attempts and made all 35 of his point-after attempts. Additionally, 63% of McManus’ kickoffs went for touchbacks.

Before his season in Jacksonville, McManus spent the previous nine seasons with the Denver Broncos.

For his career, McManus has made 81% of his field-goal attempts and over 97% of his PATs.

Slye had been Washington’s kicker since Nov. 2021, making 56 of his 66 field-goal attempts with a long of 61 yards. Slye did miss eight extra-point attempts during his time with the Commanders. For his career, Slye has an 83.2% touchback rating on his kickoffs.

Broncos kicker Wil Lutz backs out of 3-year deal with Jaguars

After initially agreeing to a three-year deal with the Jaguars, Wil Lutz backed out of the agreement to return to the Broncos instead.

Story update: After initially agreeing to a three-year deal with the Jaguars, Wil Lutz backed out of that agreement and decided to return to the Broncos on a two-year deal instead. See our original post below. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Denver Broncos pending free agent kicker Wil Lutz, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The deal will not become official until the NFL’s new league year begins on Wednesday.

After cutting Brandon McManus last spring, Broncos coach Sean Payton traded a seventh-round pick to the New Orleans Saints in the summer to acquire Lutz (he’s one of many former Saints who reunited with Payton in Denver).

Ironically, Lutz will now replace McManus in Jacksonville. McManus, 32, is set to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.

Because part of his contract was still being paid by New Orleans, Lutz was a relative bargain for the Broncos in 2023 with a $1.25 million salary.

Lutz (29) struggled early in the 2023 season, missing a field goal and an extra point attempt in Week 1, but he bounced back to finish the year 30-of-34 (88.2%) on field goal attempts and 29-of-31 (93.5%) on extra point attempts.

Lutz has converted 85.2% of his field goal attempts and 97.2% of his extra point attempts in his career. The veteran kicker spent seven years with the Saints before landing in Denver last year. His career long is 60 yards.

In addition to seeking a quarterback, the Broncos now also need a new kicker. We are tracking all of Denver’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Jaguars bring back 2022 hero Riley Patterson

Riley Patterson, who was traded to the Lions last year, is back with the Jaguars.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed kicker Riley Patterson to a reserve/futures deal on Monday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

Patterson, 24, spent the 2022 season with the Jaguars and made 30 of his 35 field goal attempts on the year. That included a four-for-four performance against the New York Jets that earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. In the playoffs, Patterson made a 36-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Los Angeles Chargers.

After the season, the Jaguars opted to sign Brandon McManus to take over kicking duties in 2023. Patterson was then traded to the Detroit Lions for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Details of the conditions of the trade are unknown, but the pick may still belong to Detroit as Patterson was eventually replaced by the Lions in December. He was waived by the team late in the season and was signed to the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad to finish the year.

McManus, who made 30 of his 37 field goals this season, is currently the only other kicker on the Jaguars’ roster with the addition of Patterson.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Comparing Wil Lutz’s stats to Brandon McManus’ stats in 2023

Wil Lutz converted 88.2% of his field goals in 2023, better than Brandon McManus (81.1%). Lutz did miss two PATs (McManus was perfect).

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton made a somewhat surprising move last May when he released veteran kicker Brandon McManus.

McManus ranked second on the club’s all-time scoring list and he was the last remaining member from the Super Bowl 50 squad before being cut. The kicker was coming off a down year, however, and releasing him saved the Broncos $3.75 million in 2023 salary cap space.

McManus signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars a few days later.

Denver then had a kicker competition between Brett Maher and Elliott Fry last summer, but neither of them ended up winning the job. Before the start of the season, Payton traded a seventh-round draft pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for Wil Lutz, his former kicker.

The switch from McManus to Lutz saved the Broncos $2.05 million in 2023 cap space, so it made sense financially. In hindsight, it also made sense from a football perspective.

Lutz converted 88.2% of his field goals this season, better than the 81.1% conversion rate that McManus posted. Here’s a quick look at a few more of their stats.

22 Jaguars players set to become free agents in March, ranked

Which impending free agents should the Jaguars focus on bringing back?

The Jacksonville Jaguars spent much of the 2023 offseason retaining their own free agents.

While Jawaan Taylor, Arden Key, Marvin Jones Jr, and Chris Manhertz were among those who left the team, the Jaguars made sure to keep several players, including Andrew Wingard, Dawuane Smoot, Adam Gotsis, and Tre Herndon.

After a disappointing 2023 season, there aren’t as many tough calls to make regarding the more than 20 players set to become free agents in 2024.

Free agency will begin on March 13, but the first decision for the Jaguars will come about a week before that when the franchise tag deadline hits on March 5.

With about two months to sort out their plans, here are the 22 players the Jaguars currently have set to leave the team as free agents:

15 takeaways from the Broncos’ first season under Sean Payton

Here are 15 quick takeaways from Sean Payton’s first season with the Broncos.

After starting 4-11 last season, the Denver Broncos fired first-time head coach Nathaniel Hackett with two games remaining. Jerry Rosburg then took over on an interim basis and the club split their final two games to finish the year with a 5-12 record.

After firing Hackett, the Broncos’ new ownership group wanted to go big, so they agreed to trade first- and second-round draft picks to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a third-round pick and the rights to head coach Sean Payton last January.

While Denver did not qualify for the playoffs, the team did take a step forward in Year 1 under Payton, improving from 5-12 in 2022 to 8-9 in 2023. That marked the team’s best record since 2017. The next step is posting a winning record and qualifying for the postseason in 2024.

So, what did we learn from Payton’s first season in Denver? Here are 15 quick takeaways from the Broncos’ 2023 season.