Broncos sign kicker Elliott Fry after dumping veteran Brandon McManus

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Elliott Fry will get the first chance to serve as Brandon McManus' successor in Denver after the Broncos signed the third-year kicker who has appeared in three career NFL games games with the Falcons, Chiefs and Bengals.

The Broncos cut ties with McManus on May 23, and coach Sean Payton indicated last week that money was a driver in the decision. They saved $3.75 million in salary and $2.5 million in cap space by dumping McManus.

The last holdover from the Broncos' Super Bowl 50-winning team, McManus took out a full-page advertisement in the Denver Post last weekend thanking “Broncos Country” and listing more than 150 members of the organization.

McManus quickly signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after his nine-year career in Denver came to a close with him as the second-leading scorer in team history, highlighted by his 10-for-10 run through the playoffs on the way to the franchise's third Super Bowl title. He connected on a franchise-most 42 field goals of 50 or more yards in the regular season and playoffs.

The Broncos held offseason workouts without a kicker last week.

Fry is a third-year pro from the University of South Carolina who appeared in a game each with Atlanta in 2020 and with both Kansas City and Cincinnati in 2021.

For his career, he's made five of six field goal attempts but has also missed two of seven extra points.

Fry appeared in 51 games at South Carolina between 2013-16, making 66 field goals and 161 extra points. He's the second all-time leading scorer in Gamecocks history.