The Denver Broncos have a new kicker in place just one week after moving on from Brandon McManus. Denver transitions from an experienced kicker to somebody who doesn’t have much prior experience.
On Wednesday, the Denver Broncos signed kicker Elliott Fry to a one-year deal as first reported by NFL Networks’ Tom Peliserro. After having an experienced veteran like McManus for the last eight years, the Broncos are taking a chance on Fry who possesses limited experience kicking in the NFL.
He’s bounced around various NFL rosters practice squads or training camp rosters, but hasn’t found a place to stick yet. Denver could be where he gets his prime opportunity to do just that.
In 2019, Fry played in the AAF as a member of the Orlando Apollos where he was 14 for 14 on field goals made. His performance in the AAF before they shut down granted him the opportunity to compete for a starting job with the Chicago Bears in training camp before Eddy Piñeiro beat him out.
For the initial launch of the XFL in 2020, he was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks but never played a snap for them.
Fry has been on three different NFL teams on a regular-season roster since 2020 including the Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, and Atlanta Falcons. Despite kicking for those teams, Fry has only appeared in three total NFL games in the regular season.
In 2020, he made his only kick attempt as a member of the Atlanta Falcons and was 1 for 2 on extra point attempts. Fry appeared in just one game with the Chiefs where he made three of his four field goal attempts and made three out of his four extra point attempts.
He made his only kick attempt with the Cincinnati Bengals and his only extra-point attempt in just one game.
The 28-year-old didn’t appear in any regular season game in 2022.
What immediately stands out about this signing is the Broncos taking a gamble on Fry with the hope that he can gain more experience this season if he can put together a solid training camp and preseason.
Much of his evaluation will come during camp and during the preseason where it will be determined if he will be the kicker during the regular season. If he struggles, the Broncos could very well move on and look to bring in somebody else.
It wouldn’t come as a surprise if the Broncos keep an eye on various kickers around the league during the preseason in the event a team cuts a player the team’s pro personnel department has graded highly in comparison to how Fry performs.
For Fry, he has yet to attempt any kick from 50+ yards which will be something he’ll have to do at altitude. In his career, he is 1/1 from 20-29 yards, 3/4 from 30-39 yards, and 1/1 from 40-49 yards total.
If the Broncos bring in another kicker during training camp, there would be competition for Fry, but until that happens — Fry is expected to be the guy for the interim.
