Saints HC Dennis Allen explains why the team traded Wil Lutz
The New Orleans Saints sent shockwaves through the NFL world when they made a trade on Tuesday. The Saints dealt kicker Wil Lutz to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a 2024 7th-round selection. The move, while always possible, was still a jarring one for fans of the team. Saints HC Dennis Allen explained the […]
The New Orleans Saints sent shockwaves through the NFL world when they made a trade on Tuesday.
The Saints dealt kicker Wil Lutz to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a 2024 7th-round selection. The move, while always possible, was still a jarring one for fans of the team.
Saints HC Dennis Allen explained the difficult decision at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Lutz had spent the past six seasons as the team's starting kicker, and many of those were impressive campaigns for the veteran.
That being said, his play had slipped progressively over the past three seasons. Injuries didn't help that situation at all, and ultimately, the Saints chose rookie kicker Blake Grupe to be their starter for this season and potentially beyond.
For Lutz, you could tell that the process was a tough one for him. He was emotional after the preseason finale on Sunday when asked about his time in New Orleans and his future. Later on Tuesday, Lutz posted a heartfelt message on multiple social media platforms thanking the Saints organization.
For the Saints, Allen's expressions say it all. This decision wasn't easy for them. Lutz has been a key piece to their franchise for over half of a decade. Alas, it is time to turn over a new leaf for the kicking game for the Saints.
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