Dolphins add punter who led the league in average twice in past three seasons
The Dolphins made a significant move on special teams on Sunday, agreeing to terms with former Tennessee Titans punter Ryan Stonehouse, who led the league in yards per punt in 2022 and 2023. The deal was confirmed by a league source.
Stonehouse was coached those seasons by then Titans-special teams coach Craig Aukerman, who replaced Danny Crossman as the Dolphins’ special teams coach this offseason.
Stonehouse’s signing leaves Dolphins incumbent punter Jake Bailey very much in jeopardy. Bailey’s $1.95 million salary for 2025 is not guaranteed and his cap hit shrinks from $2.5 million to $550,000 if he’s released.
Stonehouse, who went undrafted out of Colorado State in 2021, averaged an NFL-high 53.1 yards per punt in both 2022 and 2023. He sustained a torn ACL and MCL in Week 13 of the 2023 season but made it back in time for last season, when he averaged 50.6 yards, which was third in the league.
But his net yards per punt plunged to 33rd in the league at 38.3 last season, and the Titans chose not to tender him as a restricted free agent. As a result, they lost the ability to match Miami’s offer for him.
Stonehouse’s 2024 season came with a new special teams coach. Aukerman was dismissed by the Titans in December 2023 and spent last season coaching with the Chargers.
By contrast, Bailey last season averaged 47.1 yards, which was 16th in the league and well behind Stonehouse’s 50.6 yard average. In his one previous season with Miami (2023), Bailey averaged 45.7 yards, which was well behind Stonehouse’s 53.1 that season.
In the significant measurement of net yards per punt, Stonehouse has averaged 43.4 yards, 44.3 yards and 38.3 yards the past three seasons, while Bailey averaged 40.7 each of the past two seasons with Miami after joining the Dolphins following four years with New England.
Stonehouse had punts blocked each of the first two games last season but none after.
Also notable: Over the past three seasons, 33.3 percent, 52.8 and 30.1 of Stonehouse’s punts have landed inside the opponent’s 20 yard line, compared to 37.7 and 39.3 for Bailey in his two years in Miami.
As far as touchbacks per punt are concerned, Stonehouse finished at 10, 18.9 and 9.6 percent in his three years in the league. Bailey was at 5.7 and 8.9 percent in his two years in Miami.
This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM.
