The Dolphins have agreed to terms with former Atlanta Falcons punter Bradley Pinion, a move that brings in competition for newly acquired punter Seth Vernon.
The Dolphins also signed veteran long snapper Taybor Pepper, who spent the 2020-24 seasons with San Francisco, his destination after spending the 2019 with Miami. Pepper, who signed with Green Bay in 2017 after going unsigned in 2016 after his final year at Michigan State, will compete with Tucker Addington, another returnee, for the long snapper job.
As for Pinion, this will be the second consecutive year the Dolphins have punter competition in training camp. Last season, Jake Bailey, who is now with Atlanta, outdueled Ryan Stonehouse to win the punting job.
Pinion, a 2015 fifth-round draftee by San Francisco, totaled a league-leading 34 punts inside the 20-yard line last season for the Falcons while his three touchbacks were among the league’s fewest.
Pinion, a big punter at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, averaged 45.1 yards per punt, which ranked 27th in the NFL. His 11 fair catches were tied for 11th best in the league.
Pinion’s 64 punts were 10th most in the league.
The Dolphins finished 10th in the league in net punting last season at 43.6 yards per punt.
Miami is Pinion’s fourth team. He spent his first four seasons (2015-18) with San Francisco, followed by three seasons with Tampa Bay (2018-21) before spending the last four with Atlanta.
Pinion is also a kickoff specialist. Last season, the Dolphins split kickoff duties between Bailey and kicker Riley Patterson.
Interestingly, this is the second time Pinion and Vernon have been on the same team. Vernon, undrafted out of Portland State in 2022, originally signed with Atlanta.
The Dolphins’ punters are under the guidance of first-year special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, who spent last season with the Buffalo Bills.