
#13 P · Miami Dolphins
1 transaction this offseason
Height
6'5"
Weight
265 lbs
Age
31
College
Clemson
Draft
2015, Rd 5, #165
Experience
11 yrs
Grade this player:
Guaranteed
$1.3M
AAV
$1.5M/yr
The Dolphins secured an absolute steal with Bradley Pinion's $1.5M AAV deal, earning an A+ CVI that represents exceptional value in today's punting market. Pinion's elite-tier production at this salary point creates massive surplus value for Miami — quality punters routinely command $3-4M annually, making this contract roughly half of market rate for his caliber. At 30 years old, Pinion remains in his prime window for punters, who typically maintain peak performance well into their mid-30s, giving the Dolphins multiple years of elite special teams play at a bargain price. The modest $1.3M guaranteed suggests minimal risk while locking in a proven weapon who can flip field position and complement Miami's offensive strategy. This signing exemplifies smart roster construction, allowing the Dolphins to allocate premium dollars elsewhere while securing franchise-caliber punting that could prove pivotal in tight AFC East battles.
Bradley Pinion arrives in Miami as a legitimate established veteran at a position where reliability and floor matter more than upside, and his A+ performance grade reflects exactly that kind of quiet, consistent value. Drafted in the fifth round in 2015, Pinion has spent 11 seasons earning his keep as a specialist, and the fact that he appeared in 17 games last season — logging a tackle in the process — underscores the durability that defines a long career at this level. There is no glaring statistical weakness to pin on him from the available data, which is itself a statement: punters who stick around for over a decade without controversy are doing something right. His current role in Miami is not yet locked in, though — the training camp competition angle is the most important piece of context here, as the Dolphins are evaluating rather than simply handing him the job. That said, the media framing around this signing is straightforwardly positive, projecting Pinion as a low-risk option with a reasonable floor who is likely to win the roster battle outright. For a team sitting at 7-10 in the AFC and still chasing ground in a competitive conference with the regular season 136 days away, field position is a real and underappreciated lever — and a franchise-caliber punter, even one who generates modest headlines, can quietly swing close games.
A serviceable depth addition at a specialist position with legitimate upside. Five headlines covered the deal, signaling modest media interest for a punter signing. The training camp competition angle is the key signal — Miami isn't handing Pinion the job automatically. Fans largely shrug at punter moves, though field position specialists quietly matter in close games. Pinion projects as a low-risk, reasonable-floor option who likely wins the roster battle outright.
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