Bronx Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 https://www.fanduel.com/theduel/posts/10-best-nfl-free-agent-punters-2023-01gq80wzdccm 1. Tommy Townsend, Kansas City Chiefs It's important to note right off the bat that Tommy Townsend is a restricted free agent. That means the Chiefs will have an opportunity to match any offer thrown the 26-year-old's way. They'd be smart to keep him around considering he posted a net average of 45.6 yards in 2022, which ranked first among NFL punters. He also allowed only 176 return yards on 53 punts (3.3-yard average). 2. Thomas Morstead, Miami Dolphins Thomas Morstead has seen his fair share of NFL action, playing in 14 seasons and winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints. He spent this past campaign with the Miami Dolphins and finished with 45.9% of his punts being downed inside the 20-yard line. That was the second best mark of his storied career and makes him an intriguing free agent option. 3. Andy Lee, Arizona Cardinals There's no one else on this list that has gotten the recognition Andy Lee has. The 40-year-old is a three-time Pro Bowler and a three-time all-Pro selection. He has topped the NFL in punt yardage three times in his career, too. Lee's best days are behind him, but he still averaged over 47.0 yards per punt for the sixth time in the last seven years in 2022. His consistency cannot be overlooked. 4. Blake Gilikin, New Orleans Saints It'd be a shock to see Blake Gilikin punting anywhere but New Orleans in 2022. That is because as an exclusive rights free agent, Gilikin cannot negotiate with other teams if the Saints offer him a one-year deal at the league minimum. Gilikin finished tied for fourth in the NFL with 32 punts inside the 20-yard line and is only 24 years old. His upside remains sky-high. 5. Bradley Pinion, Atlanta Falcons Bradley Pinion is the second Super Bowl winner on this list as he punted for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. He joined the Falcons on a one-year deal last offseason and went on to average a career-high 45.9 yards per punt in 2022. Pinion also tallied less than three touchbacks for the third straight season. 6. Matt Haack, Indianapolis Colts Matt Haack is making his way all around America. He has spent the past three seasons in Miami, Buffalo and most recently Indianapolis. The former Arizona State standout logged only three touchbacks on 70 punts (4.3%) and saw 40.0% of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He remains an underrated option for team's in need of a punter. 7. Sam Martin, Buffalo Bills Punting in harsh weather conditions is not easy, but Sam Martin has proven he has what it takes to get the job done. He kicked in Denver for two years before joining Buffalo on a one-year deal last offseason. In 2022, the Appalachian State product averaged over 42.0 net yards per punt for the fourth straight year and allowed only 151 return yards on 45 punts (3.4-yard average). 8. JK Scott, Los Angeles Chargers After only tallying 50 punts during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, JK Scott logged 73 punts in 2022 and averaged a career-best 41.1 net yards per punt. A respectable 38.4% of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, which was also a career-best mark. Scott isn't the most experienced option on this list, but there's a chance his best football is yet to come. 9. Riley Dixon, Los Angeles Rams It was an up-and-down campaign for Riley Dixon in 2022. The 29-year-old averaged a career-high 48.4 yards per punt, but saw a career-worst 26.8% of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He has the leg talent to stick around in the NFL and needs the right coaching staff to help him corral it. 10. Jamie Gillan, New York Giants Jamie Gillan is best known for his rugby style of punting and his tendency to get blown up on fake punt plays. The "Scottish Hammer" averaged 40.2 net yards per punt and logged 26 punts inside the 20-yard line in 2022. Both of those marks were his best since 2019. Gillan tallied 9 touchbacks as well, though, which was far above the league average. Let's talk about punters... 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry McCockinner Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronx Posted March 5, 2023 Author Share Posted March 5, 2023 14 minutes ago, Barry McCockinner said: Thanks for the insight. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManCave Analyst Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 What about Matt Araiza , who the Bills released because of rape allegations. Those charges are not being prosecuted against him, criminally. I’m not sure because of lack of evidence or the charges were viewed as fabricated.He has a mega leg.Sent from my iPad using JetNation.com mobile app 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronx Posted March 5, 2023 Author Share Posted March 5, 2023 4 minutes ago, ManCave Analyst said: What about Matt Araiza , who the Bills released because of rape allegations. Those charges are not being prosecuted against him, criminally. I’m not sure because of lack of evidence or the charges were viewed as fabricated. He has a mega leg. Sent from my iPad using JetNation.com mobile app I started a thread on this topic and the idea wasn't welcomed by many. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maury77 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 2 minutes ago, Bronx said: I started a thread on this topic and the idea wasn't welcomed by many. I'm ok with signing him if he wasn't charged. On a side note, the second guy on the list (Morestead) was with the Jets I believe when Mann was hurt but they released the former when the latter came back. Another brilliant job of self scouting by the Jets front office. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hex Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 13 minutes ago, maury77 said: I'm ok with signing him if he wasn't charged. On a side note, the second guy on the list (Morestead) was with the Jets I believe when Mann was hurt but they released the former when the latter came back. Another brilliant job of self scouting by the Jets front office. They made it up with things like the Dan Brown trade though. They're a roller coaster of a scouting team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peekskill68 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 That 2020 draft JD put together is the gift that just keeps giving... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morrissey Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 you may remember Thomas Morstead was on our roster in 2021 and we cut him when injured Braden Mann came back. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadFan Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Mann should have been released last year, multiple times… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 If they trot out Mann as our staring punter next year so help me. ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PepPep Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Honestly, I would welcome any one of these guys instead of Mann. I think most of these guys will stick with their teams though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Adam Korsak P Rutgers is draft eligible let’s not let these players who are close to home become stars elsewhere. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section314 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 41 minutes ago, joewilly12 said: Adam Korsak P Rutgers is draft eligible let’s not let these players who are close to home become stars elsewhere. Good morning. Thoughts your way buddy. Hang tough. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nixhead Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Why would our scouts be wasting the Jets time and money even looking at punters? Jets scouts have always been the worst period! I remember when we drafted a kicker in the second round - well I thought they know what they are doing - nope they let him go and he had a long career somewhere else - morons. They drafted Mann a few years ago - he has to be the next coming of Ray Guy right? Nope he sukkks. No more drafting punters or kickers please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Thornburgh Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 12 hours ago, RoadFan said: Mann should have been released last year, multiple times… Let's be fair. Zach forced him to do too much work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gastineau Lives Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 12 minutes ago, Rich Thornburgh said: Let's be fair. Zach forced him to do too much work. And Western Kentucky wore out our other kicker (and team doctors) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slats Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 I’d like to see an upgrade but this, by no means, should be given much if any priority at all. Bring in an UDFA leg or two and have a competition. Save the money for everything else. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronx Posted March 5, 2023 Author Share Posted March 5, 2023 4 minutes ago, slats said: Bring in an UDFA leg or two and have a competition. Save the money for everything else. How much longer? Joe D has been around four seasons and it's still a need...total ineptitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viffer Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 14 hours ago, ManCave Analyst said: What about Matt Araiza , who the Bills released because of rape allegations. Those charges are not being prosecuted against him, criminally. I’m not sure because of lack of evidence or the charges were viewed as fabricated. He has a mega leg. Sent from my iPad using JetNation.com mobile app Even though some would have you believe otherwise, this country is founded on the principle of innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. I think we have to stop persecuting people until they have been prosecuted and found guilty. If they dropped the charges, then there should be no hesitation in signing him. If he is actually guilty, but there was insufficient evidence to charge him, then let it play out in civil court, with a much lower standard of proof. But an accusation is not proof of a crime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slats Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 1 hour ago, Bronx said: How much longer? Joe D has been around four seasons and it's still a need...total ineptitude. Punter as a priority is a luxury, and the Jets are hardly at the luxury stage just yet. Fix the QB and OL issues sufficiently, and all of a sudden a sub-par punter becomes far less of a problem. At this point, it’s really not worth spending too much time, money, or a single draft pick on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 14 minutes ago, slats said: Punter as a priority is a luxury, and the Jets are hardly at the luxury stage just yet. Fix the QB and OL issues sufficiently, and all of a sudden a sub-par punter becomes far less of a problem. At this point, it’s really not worth spending too much time, money, or a single draft pick on. Luxury? There are punters all over the place and moving on from one of the worst punters in the league is not at all a luxury, it is malfeasance to NOT move on from him, he cost us games last year. No one is saying using a first rounder on a punter, we are saying get this guy who stinks outta here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slats Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Just now, Beerfish said: Luxury? There are punters all over the place and moving on from one of the worst punters in the league is not at all a luxury, it is malfeasance to NOT move on from him, he cost us games last year. No one is saying using a first rounder on a punter, we are saying get this guy who stinks outta here. I suggested a competition for the one position on the team that might be more valuable than a long-snapper, I think that’ll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangerous Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 It seems to me Mann isn’t the next ray guy but he’s also not the next Louis Aguirre. He’s got one year left on his rookie deal so the jets can go either way. Sign one of these free agents or keep Mann. And when you look at his 5 yards return average you have to consider the punt returned for a td. Take those yards out and his return average is much less. And while he didn’t kick that punt return in the right direction there were still quite a few missed tackles by the coverage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TuscanyTile2 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 If we want a good punter, JD shouldn't wait. Learn lessons from the past. Take one at #13 overall! https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1973/draft.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TuscanyTile2 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 1 hour ago, Beerfish said: Luxury? There are punters all over the place and moving on from one of the worst punters in the league is not at all a luxury, it is malfeasance to NOT move on from him, he cost us games last year. No one is saying using a first rounder on a punter, we are saying get this guy who stinks outta here. See one post above! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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