Jake Bailey

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Falcons struck gold with Jake Bailey's three-year, $9M deal, landing an elite punter at a bargain price that represents one of the best special teams values in the league. Bailey's A+ CVI reflects the massive gap between his elite-tier production and his modest $3M AAV, which ranks in the bottom half of starting punter salaries despite his top-tier performance metrics. At 28, he's entering his prime years for the position where leg strength and consistency typically peak, making this the perfect time to lock him down before his market value inevitably rises. The $5M in guaranteed money provides reasonable security without handcuffing the franchise, while the three-year term captures his best remaining seasons without extending into potential decline. Atlanta just secured a franchise-caliber weapon in the field position battle at replacement-level money — the kind of under-the-radar move that quietly impacts win totals while preserving cap space for skill position upgrades.

Performance Analysis

Jake Bailey, a 7-year veteran punter now anchoring Atlanta's special teams unit, has established himself as one of the most consistent specialists in the modern NFL. Entering 2025 with back-to-back A+ grades, Bailey has quietly built a résumé that places him among the elite tier alongside names like Michael Dickson and Bryan Anger. At 28, he represents the ideal blend of prime age and seasoned experience for a positional group where reliability is paramount. Bailey's consistency across 109 career games is his defining trait — sustaining an A+ grade through 2023, 2024, and 2025 is a standard that very few specialists ever achieve. His availability stands out immediately: logging 17.0 games this season matches the elite benchmark of 17.0, compared to the NFL average of 14.0, meaning Atlanta never scrambles for a replacement option. While traditional punter counting stats like passer rating don't apply, his sustained excellence across multiple coaching staffs and roster constructions speaks loudly to his professional adaptability. Bailey's three-season trend — A+ in 2023, A+ in 2024, A+ in 2025 — represents a rare plateau of sustained excellence that most specialists never reach. His trajectory shows no signs of regression, and at 28, he likely has four to six more peak seasons remaining. The Falcons have a legitimate long-term answer at punter, and Bailey's consistency makes him a quiet priority to retain heading into future contract cycles.

Fan Sentiment

Atlanta lands a quality starter-level punter on a reasonable three-year deal. Five headlines confirm this was a deliberate, prioritized special teams upgrade for the Falcons. Bailey's New England pedigree and strong directional punting skills signal a clear upgrade over previous options. Fans are cautiously optimistic, noting special teams has been a consistent weakness in Atlanta. Bailey should immediately stabilize the punting game and improve field position battles in 2024.