Five Things Saints in Peter King’s FMIA column; mentions potential Lutz trade to Denver before cutdown (1 Viewer)

[sfidc3]

I'll stick with the known commodity in Lutz. Don't want another kicker carrousel like we had in 2021. Lutz missed the whole 2021 season with a core injury, which he had to have surgery. I don't believe he was fully healthy last season. Core injuries can linger. Last night against the Chargers he was 3-3. He was 2-2 from 30-39 and 1-1 from 50+. His FG% so far this preseason is100%. There were a couple of reports from camp that he was nailing 60 & 61 yarders.
This is what his career has looked like for the Saints.
2016- 28-34- 82.4%
2017- 31-36- 86.1%
2018- 28-30- 93.3%
2019- 32-36- 88.9%
2020- 23-28- 82.1%
2121- Injured, did not play
2022- 23-31- 74.2%
Career Avg.- 84.6%
Lutz has had one really bad year and he was coming back from injury last season. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and see how he does this season before I make any comments about wanting another kicker. I'd prefer to stick with what we have in Lutz. But ultimately it's up the DA and Loomis to make that decision.

Wow, I knew Lutz had a few good years for us but didn't realize he had 5 straight seasons at 80% +......I think he deserves another year, especially if he is getting healthy.....

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

I think you stick w/ Lutz 1 more year. Find a way to stash Grupe. It’s the same reason why I say keep Haener as #3 and stick w/ Winston as #2.

Wholesale changes aren’t the way to go this year. Stick w/ the familiar.

 

[B_doggman47]

Lutz doesn’t suck. It takes time after an injury like that. I’m fine if we trade him, but he has the leg strength to last a long time in this league. It would be a very Saints thing to do to carry him during rehab and then trade him and watch him be the old Lutz for ten more years.

That's a good reason to keep him and trade Grupe. We know Lutz can make kicks from long range, especially at the end of a game for an important win. We don't know if Grupe can consistently make kicks from long range, all of his kicks have been from medium to short range.
Ok, say we trade Lutz and we keep Groupe. The first time he has to kick a FG from 50+ in an important game for a last second win and he misses, then what? And Lutz is having a good season in Denver. Do we go back to the kicker carousel again, dragging in kicker after kicker hoping to find one that can consistently make FG's. We went through that until we found Lutz and then again went on the kicker carousel when Lutz got injured. I don't want to see the team go through that again.
If the Saints do make a trade, I hope it's Grupe or find a way to stash him on the PS or IR.

 

[Saviorbrees]

Lutz had one bad year. He’s been money all training camp and or season. Idk too much risk for me I’d stay with what you know vs what you might have.