Bradley

Pinion

Pinion spent the last three years in Atlanta. The Dolphins are adding competition for Seth Vernon, the other punter on their roster. Pinion also operates as a kickoff specialist, which could give him the edge over Vernon for their inevitable camp battle.

Pinion joined the Falcons on a one-year deal last offseason after being released by the Buccaneers, and will remain with the Falcons for the foreseeable future. Pinion ranked third among qualified punters in hangtime (4.48 seconds) last season, and ranked fifth in PFF punter grades (75.7).

The Ravens have waived UDFA rookie Dom Maggio in a corresponding roster move. Cut by the Bucs eight days ago, Pinion now slots in as the second, and probably best, punter on the Falcons’ 90-man roster. Of course, Pinion did not have a great year for the Bucs in 2020, placing 22nd in net-punting average. It’s far from a guarantee he claims the starting job.

The move saves the Bucs $2.9 million, as Pinion was headed into the final year of his deal. This was completely expected after Tampa Bay used a fourth-round pick on P Jake Camarda, who will be much cheaper on a rookie contract. 28-year-old Pinion will be searching for his third team after spending four years with the 49ers and the last three with the Bucs.

The Bucs’ entire specialist trio of Succop, P Bradley Pinion and LS Zach Triner have landed on the coronavirus list. It is unclear which of the three, if any, are positive. The most likely assumption is that one is positive and the other two are close contacts. Whoever is positive will be ineligible for Sunday’s game against the Falcons, one that will produce fantasy relevance for kickers. Greg Joseph is the next man up for the Bucs.

Pinion will be replacing recently cut P Bryan Anger in Tampa Bay. The former No. 165 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Pinion averaged 43.7 yards per punt in 2018 and has experience on kickoffs.

Pinion (6'5/229) was about as dominant as punters get in college, landing 55 of his 140 career punts inside the opposing 20-yard line with only two career touchbacks. He doubled as the Tigers’ placekicker and kickoff specialist. Pinion earned the rare distinction of declaring for the draft as a junior. Ideally built and very talented, Pinion could be a field-flipping weapon in the NFL.