Free agency is off to a busy start for the Atlanta Falcons. With a new regime underway, the Falcons have wasted no time making moves to sure up their depth and special teams units. Following the announcement that the team will sign veteran kicker Nick Folk, the team is now expected to sign punter Jake Bailey as well.
With the
new staff, the team elected to let punter Bradley Pinion walk into free agency, fresh off a season where he had a Falcons’ franchise record 34 punts land within the 20-yard line. Bailey’s deal, as mentioned above, is a three-year deal with $5 million in fully guarantees included.
Bailey has a lot of punting experience, after spending time with the New England Patriots (2019-2022) where he was selected as a First-Team All-Pro in 2020, and time with the Miami Dolphins (2023-2025) where he averaged 47.7 yards per punt, his highest average since that 2020 All-Pro season. He overlapped with special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman in 2025 in Miami.
Overall, it’s a quality signing for a position the Falcons had a hole at with Pinion walking. On the first day of free agency, the team has made it a key to establish their new special teams unit, and with Folk and Bailey signed, they’ve done that just.
