New York Giants: Top 5 punter replacements for Brad Wing

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman is making changes in all three phases.

Big Blue fans were expecting a change at kicker this offseason, but punter Brad Wing was the first player to get Gettleman’s axe ahead of free agency.

The New York Giants cut both Wing and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie over the weekend. Wing spent the past three seasons with Big Blue.

The Giants acquired the Australian punter through a trade with the Steelers in 2015. After a career-year in 2016, Wing struggled to replicate his success this past season.

Wing’s 36.7-yard net average ranked last among eligible punters in 2017. He also had two punts blocked and pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line just 19 times.

To be fair, all of New York’s special teams were horrendous last season. Most Giants fans were expecting Wing and Aldrick Rosas to be gone before the new league year.

The Giants do have punter Austin Rehkow under contract, but he averaged just 41.6 yards per punt in his senior year at Idaho. Rehkow will likely have a shot to earn the full-time role, but the Giants would be foolish to just hand him the job.

Gettleman’s top priority this offseason is rebuilding the offensive line, but he’s also clearly making changes on defense and special teams. The Giants have a new special teams coordinator in Thomas McGaughey.

Effort was a big question for New York’s special teams last season. That shouldn’t be the case under McGaughey. But at the same time, effort can only take a special teams unit so far. The Giants need talent at the punter and kicker positions.

There’s a reason Johnny Hekker and Shane Lechler have earned a combined 10 first-team All-Pro honors. The Giants are unlikely to sign a punter of Hekker’s caliber this offseason, but there are some options both in free agency and coming out of college.

#5 – Johnny Townsend

There are a few punters coming out of college worthing keeping an eye on.

Johnny Townsend is one of them. The Gators punter averaged an FBS-high 47.5-yards per punt in 2017 and is considered one of the top specialist in this year’s draft class.

The Giants will only have five draft selections after their trade for Alec Ogletree become finalized, but Townsend could potentially be available as an undrafted free agent.

Townsend and Alabama’s J.K Scott are borderline day three selections. In his senior year, Townsend earned second-team All-American honors and booted 27 punts over 50 yards.

Gettleman may be unlikely to use one of New York’s draft picks on a specialist, but he did take kicker Harrison Butker with Carolina’s seventh-round selection just last year.

For the Giants to take a punter like Townsend or Scott in the 2018 NFL Draft, it likely would require a trade back involving draft picks. There is one punter that could be worthy of New York’s day three selections. But we’ll get to him a little later.

#4 – Pat O’Donnell

The Chicago Bears used a sixth-round pick on Pat O’Donnell in the 2014 draft. In his first four seasons, he has posted a net average of 44.9 yards per punt.

O’Donnell isn’t a huge upgrade from Wing, but the G-Men don’t have many choices in free agency.

He is coming off a career-year though and has been more consistent than Big Blue’s former punter. There are just four veteran punters set to hit the market this offseason after Donnie Jones announced his retirement in February.

O’Donnell posted a net average of 39.7 yards per punt in 2017, placing him eight spots ahead of Wing.

The 27-year-old out of Miami has also been more efficient placing opponents inside their own 20-yard line. He pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line 27 times in 2017 and has no problems running trick plays if needed.

The Bears will likely look to retain O’Donnell in free agency. Gettleman surely won’t get in a bidding war over a punter, making him a long-shot to land in the Big Apple.

#3 – Kevin Huber

The top three players on this list are sure to garner plenty of attention this offseason, well at least for punters.

Kevin Huber has spent his entire career in Cincinnati. The Bengals 2009 fifth-round pick earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2014 and was a two-time All-American in college.

He posted the league’s 13th best net average (40.8) this past season and is coming off a five-year, $14 million contract, according to Spotrac.

If the Giants are looking for consistency at the punter position, Huber could be an ideal fit. He has not posted a net average below 39 yards since 2010. He is coming off his best season since 2014 and pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line 32 times this past year.

#2 – Dustin Colquitt

Dustin Colquitt is set to test free agency after spending the past 13 seasons in Kansas City. The Chiefs signed their former third-round pick to a five-year, $18.75 million deal in 2013, according to Spotrac.

The two-time Pro Bowl punter posted the league’s 12th best net average (41.1) in 2017 and pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line 29 times. His efficiency in terms of pinning opponents deep in their own territory is second to none.

The Chiefs longtime punter has consistently been a top 15 punter throughout his NFL career and has only missed two games since entering the league in 2005. Despite turning 36-years-old this offseason, Colquitt remains the top free agent punter to hit the market.

It’s unknown how much Gettleman is willing to spend on the position, but Colquitt was undoubtedly a valuable weapon for Kansas City.

#1 – Michael Dickson

Dickson is one of the most talked about punters to come out of college in a long time. The Australian punter decided to enter the 2018 NFL Draft after his junior season and is considered by most draft analysts the top specialist in this year’s class.

Dickson posted a net average of 44.19 yards at Texas in 2017, placing him atop the FBS. He won the Ray Guy Award as college football’s best punter. He has the boot to succeed at the next level and is one of the most efficient punters to come out of college in a long time.

He earned Pro Football Focus’ all-time highest grade of a college punter.

Punters and kickers don’t usually draw much attention during draft season, but at least one NFC scout is excited about Dickson’s future, via NFL Network.

"“I don’t get excited about punters, but I love this guy. It’s not a stretch that Texas could produce the best kicker (Justin Tucker) and punter in the league at the same time.” Next: Big Blue's Kicker Options Dwindling"

NFL Network draft analyst Chad Reuter has the Giants taking the Longhorns punter at the top of the fourth-round of his mock draft. It’s unknown if Gettleman would want to use such a high selection on a punter, but if he doesn’t, some general manager surely will.

Dickson could be off the board as early as the third-round.