At midday Monday, it looked as if kicker Wil Lutz was bound for Jacksonville. But by late in the afternoon, he opted to remain with Denver.

John Perla, the agent for Lutz, told The Denver Gazette that he will re-sign as a free agent with the Broncos on a two-year deal. NFL Media had reported earlier in the day that Lutz would sign a three-year contract with the Jaguars.

“Lutz is still going to be a Bronco,” Perla said on the first day of the free-agent negotiating period. “There was an original arrangement (with Jacksonville) and Wil just felt a certain loyalty to Denver and felt he would be more productive in a better spot in Denver.”

Perla declined to give any monetary specifics. The Broncos apparently were not willing to give Lutz a third season on his contract while the Jaguars were.

“There was an agreement originally with Jacksonville and then it was redone with the Broncos,’’ Perla said. “We didn’t have anything in writing. (Lutz) just thought about it and decided that Jacksonville was not the right spot for him.”

On Monday night, Lutz quipped on social media, “Catching up, what did I miss? See you soon, Denver!”

Had Lutz joined the Jaguars, he would have replaced Brandon McManus, who was Denver’s kicker from 2014-22 until being released last May and signing with the Jaguars. McManus, as a free agent, agreed Monday to a one-year, $3.6 million deal with Washington.

After McManus’ exit, the Broncos looked at Elliott Fry and Brett Maher as possible replacements before last August, acquiring Lutz from New Orleans for a seventh-round pick in 2024. Lutz then made 30 of 34 field-goal attempts and 29 of 31 extra points for a team-high 119 points for the Broncos in 2023.

Lutz had played for Denver coach Sean Payton with the Saints from 2016-20, and remaining with him played a role in his eventual decision to stay a Bronco. And Denver, with the high altitude leading to potential longer kicks, is considered one of the best sites for kickers.

Quarterback search

The Broncos on Monday began free-agent negotiations as they look for a possible replacement for quarterback Russell Wilson. But the quarterback pickings soon were significantly reduced.

Wilson officially will be released on Wednesday’s first day of the NFL new league year. He then will sign a one-year, $1.21 million deal with Pittsburgh, with Denver also paying him $37.79 million in 2024.

Four quarterbacks who were considered to be in Denver’s price range agreed to deals Monday with other teams. San Francisco free agent Sam Darnold, who was perhaps the Broncos’ top target, agreed to one-year, $10 million deal with Minnesota. Indianapolis’ Gardner Minshew will sign a two-year, $25 million contract with Las Vegas. Washington’s Jacoby Brissett got a one-year, $8 million deal with New England. And Tyrod Taylor went from the New York Giants to the Jets for a two-year, $18 million contract.

Knocked down a notch

The NFL acknowledged Monday a mistake was made last week in calculating compensatory draft picks for Cincinnati. The correction affects where the Broncos will pick in the April 25-27 event.

According to the NFL, the Bengals should have gotten third- and sixth-round compensatory picks instead of two in the sixth round. So the Broncos now will pick one selection lower than they had initially thought on the final six of their eight draft picks.

In the fourth round, the Broncos now will pick No. 121, in the fifth round Nos. 136, 145 and 147, and in the sixth round Nos. 203 and 207. The Nos. 135 and 203 picks will officially go to Denver on Wednesday when a trade of wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland becomes official.