Report: Wil Lutz Changes Mind, Will Not Sign With Jaguars
Wil Lutz will not be a Jacksonville Jaguar after all.
After agreeing to terms with the Jaguars during Monday's tampering period, the Denver Broncos kicked has backed out of his deal and will re-sign with the Broncos, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Lutz was 30-of-34 on field goals for the Broncos last season, going 3-of-5 from 50 yards or more. He also made 29-of-31 extra point attempts.
The fact the Jaguars added Lutz during the legal tampering period -- a rare move -- shows he was a priority addition for Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke and special teams coordinator Heath Farwell.
The Jaguars traded former starting kicker Riley Patterson to the Detroit Lions for a 2026 conditional seventh-round selection last May after they signed former Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus.
McManus finished the 2023 season on an inconsistent note, making 30-of-37 field goals (81.1%) but going 5-of-10 from 50 yards or further. Five of McManus' seven missed field goals came in the final seven games of the season, including a potential missed game-winning field goal vs. the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football in Week 13 and two missed field goals vs. the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football in Week 15.
With McManus set to be a free agent on March 13, the Jaguars will now have to pivot. Could they re-sign McManus after actively looking for his replacement, or could they go looking for a new face in the kicker room to join Pattering this spring and offseason?