Jake

Bailey

Stonehouse is familiar with new Dolphins special teams coach Craig Aukerman, whom he worked with in two of his three seasons in the league with the Titans. Stonehouse led the league in yards per punt in 2022 and 2023. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2023 but returned to play all 17 games last season. However, it’s worth noting that he experienced career lows in yards per punt (50.6) and net yards per punt (38.3) and landed only 30.1 percent of his punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line—also a career low. With last year’s punter, Jake Bailey, still on the roster, it’s possible Stonehouse is being brought in as camp competition for the upcoming season.

Bailey joined the Dolphins on a one-year contract last offseason after spending four years with the Patriots. The former fifth-round pick wound up playing in all 17 games for the Fins, totaling 53 punts while averaging 40.7 net yards per punt, which ranked 25th amongst qualified punters. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, Bailey can make up to $5 million on his deal and is now under contract through 2025.

Bailey was drafted by New England in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He made the Pro Bowl and was named First-Team All-Pro in his second season. The Pats inked him to a four-year contract extension last offseason, but then suspended him while he was on injured reserve late in the year. He was released at the end of the year and later filed a grievance over the suspension as it voided the guarantees in his contract. Bailey ranked 34th in net yards per punt attempt last year and had the highest touchback rate of any punter.

The Patriots suspended Bailey for the final two games of 2022 and voided his contract, making him a free agent earlier this month. Miami is the first team to show interest in the Pro Browl punter.

The team signed Bailey to a three-year, $13.5 million contract a month before the 2022 season started. He suffered an injury during the season and was placed on injured reserve. While injured, the team then suspended him for the final two games of the year. The suspension voids the guaranteed money remaining on his contract, but Bailey filed a grievance with the NFLPA over the suspension. That makes the cap implications of this move unclear right now.

The contract includes $6.5 million guaranteed, runs through the 2025 season, and makes Bailey one of the NFL’s three highest-paid punters. Bailey has served as the Patriots’ punter since they selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 draft. With Joe Judge potentially running the offense, Bailey could see plenty of work this season.

The Pats surrendered picks No. 167 and 246 to move up for their “punter of the future.” Bailey (6’2/200) spent all four seasons as Stanford’s punter and kickoff specialist, averaging 43.8 yards on punts with a 59.5% touchback rate. Bailey is athletic enough to be a legitimate threat on fakes, and scouts praised his ability to generate hangtime with booming height on punts. His selection is likely curtains for Ryan Allen, who was re-signed in March.

The Pats surrendered picks No. 167 and 246 to move up for their “punter of the future.” Bailey (6’2/200) spent all four seasons as Stanford’s punter and kickoff specialist, averaging 43.8 yards on punts with a 59.5% touchback rate. Bailey is athletic enough to be a legitimate threat on fakes, and scouts praised his ability to generate hangtime with booming height on punts. His selection is likely curtains for Ryan Allen, who was re-signed in March.

Scott was a fifth-round pick by the Packers last year, and its possible that Bailey could land in that range, too. “If you’re looking for a hang-time punter this is your guy,” said the coach. “Similar to JK Scott at Alabama. (Scott) could really get the ball up.” Punters aren’t often drafted highly, but we’ve seen a few go in the middle of Day 3 lately, including Scott and Michael Dickson. Don’t be shocked if Bailey is next, as he’s widely considered the top punter in the class.

Bailey (6'1/200) does need to work on his pooch punts, in Zierlein’s estimation. The Stanford booter took part in the NFL Scouting Combine this past weekend, turning in surprisingly respectful athletic marks in the tests he took part in, including a 4.72-second 40-yard dash (Elijah Holyfield is so jealous), 33-inch vertical jump and a 117-inch broad jump. If he is to be drafted, Bailey won’t be coming off the board until later on Day 3.