AFC East punter relocation drama is upon us. Minutes after Thomas Morstead tweeted he was moving from the Dolphins to the Jets, his previous team will add the Patriots’ previous punter.
Jake Bailey is heading to Miami, according to the Dolphins. The Jets, Dolphins and Patriots could all have new punters in 2022 (the Patriots and Dolphins definitely will; Morstead looks to be entering a competition). Saving the punter continuity for this division, the Bills re-signed Sam Martin earlier this week.
Bailey leaves New England as an All-Pro. The former fifth-round pick collected such honors in 2020, when he averaged 48.7 yards per punt and placed 56.4% of his boots inside opponents’ 20-yard lines. Last season did not go as well for Bailey, who battled a back injury and was limited to nine games. Bailey averaged a career-low 42.1 yards per punt in 2022.
This Dolphins agreement comes shortly after the Patriots waived Bailey, who had signed a New England extension last summer. The Pats moved that four-year, $13.5MM deal off their books before the extension years began. The Dolphins will bet on Bailey, who will enjoy some better punting conditions with his new team, bouncing back after a down 2022. The Pats do not presently have a punter on their roster.