Punter Jake Bailey was among the players who lined up a deal during the opening day of the negotiating period, agreeing to terms with the Falcons. The Dolphins have found another candidate to replace him. 
Miami has a deal in place with Bradley Pinion, Mike Garafolo, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. This will be a one-year contract, keeping in line with several of the team’s additions so far. With the Dolphins in the early stages of a full-scale rebuild, this is the latest short-term accord which will no doubt be an inexpensive one as well.
Bailey spent each of the past three seasons with the Dolphins. He is now headed to Atlanta, where Pinion was from 2022-25. The two veterans were nearly identical in terms of gross yards per punt average in 2024, but Bailey had an edge last season; that was also the case for net average. Pinion has a long track record of handling kickoff duties, and he could continue in that regard in the event he wins the full-time job with Miami.
The Dolphins also have former undrafted free agent Seth Vernon in the fold. He and Pinion are now in position for a training camp competition to determine the punting gig. The kicker position is in a similar situation. Having released Jason Sanders, Miami has Riley Patterson and Zane Gonzalez in place. If Gonzalez unseats Patterson, the Dolphins will have multiple new faces with respect to their special teams battery in 2026.
Finances remain a major factor in each of Miami’s roster moves given the team’s massive dead money charges stemming from the likes of Tua Tagovailoa‘s release and the decision to trade away Jaylen Waddle. Pinion’s second and final Falcons contract was a three-year pact averaging $2.88MM per season. This Dolphins accord will likely check in at a lower rate.
I hope he’s ready to work overtime