Buccaneers Sign Veteran Punter Riley Dixon
March 11th, 2025
Two weeks ago at the NFL Scouting Combine, head coach Todd Bowles said he had one major ask of whomever punts for his team in 2025.
Don’t shank’em.
Yeah, the Bucs were a poor punting team last season, burning through three punters.
Now they have a new one. The latest Bucs free agent signing is the guy who punted for Sean Payton and the Broncos last season, Riley Dixon. NFL Network says it’s a two-year, $6 million deal.
The nine-year veteran has never missed a game. He’s also punted for the Giants and Rams.
Dixon’s 42-yard net punting average in 2024 was the second-best of his career.
Another need met!
Enjoy today’s Ira Kaufman Podcast!
March 11th, 2025 at 11:35 am
At least we didn’t draft one….
March 11th, 2025 at 11:36 am
hm, i was interested in seeing that kid we got from the CFL
March 11th, 2025 at 11:36 am
Nice!
March 11th, 2025 at 11:38 am
On to the next thing
March 11th, 2025 at 11:39 am
@BuckyBuc… depending on the guaranteed money, I think we will still see the CFL Punter at camp.
March 11th, 2025 at 11:52 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
March 11th, 2025 at 11:35 am
At least we didn’t draft one….
You said it!
March 11th, 2025 at 11:53 am
Wish I could get $6 million to punt a football. 🏈 Lol. I guess knowing what I know now, I should’ve started kicking a football when I was 2 yrs old.
March 11th, 2025 at 11:57 am
Isn’t he an Aussie, too?
March 11th, 2025 at 11:57 am
Wow – $3M per for a punter….
That’s tied for the 3rd highest punter salary in the NFL.
Bowles was obviously DONE with punting inconsistency – and instructed Licht to “FIX IT”.
Hopefully throwing money at the ‘problem’ does exactly that.
March 11th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Well I could punt better than thise guys last year at 50..
At least they addressed it.
March 11th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
Good shrewd move here, at a fair market value. He had options too, but lands here. Still no full explanation on why Camarda was jettisoned back then.
March 11th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
Only 42 yards? You get +5 by kicking at altitude in Denver.
March 11th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
“At least we didn’t draft one” , haha , what’s that gotta do with anything? It doesn’t matter if we draft a punter. They usually get picked up and snagged around 6-7 or as undrafted FA.
Lot of these teams don’t wanna pay a punter, but they also don’t want to have other guys on the team do that job either. Lmao
Sorry to burst your bubble buddy but they play the game also. It’s very important to have punters , holders, and kickers play this game also. They have jobs to do also to make it work for the team. $3 million for a punter isn’t even that much money. You guys don’t even know. A used house cost $1million dollar’s these days, and in the ghetto it costs $200,000. Money isn’t even valued anymore because it doesn’t cover anything for anyone.
March 11th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
looking at some of his highlights it seems like he can throw the ball too so maybe we get lucky and convert some trick plays this next season
March 11th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
I still wish someone would explain to me what happened to that kid from Georgia. He was all-world in 2022 then dropped like a stone. It’s an inexplicable demise, like drugs or some kind of off-field thing was involved.
March 11th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
A reach.
Lots of young punters coming out.
Brederson play this guy equals Jarrett.
Imagine Jarrett starting over Logan Hall?
He would penetrate and stop the run.
We need to invest in defensive line depth.
I wanna be 10 deep. No joke.
March 11th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
Joe Simmons, heard he got married and religion. Lost his focus. Sunday’s became Gods day not the Bucs game day. That’s mostly speculation but didn’t hear anything about drugs. Head just wasn’t in it.
42 yards doesn’t seem all that impressive but remember that is net average. After returns … going from own 20 to opposing 38 … can be much worse and we saw that last season.
March 11th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
would be funny if he sucks going from elevation to humidity
March 11th, 2025 at 1:06 pm
Riley Rankings out of 32 Punters:
#6 in downed within the 20 (33)
#9 in net punt yards (42.2)
He’s a good punter.
March 11th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
Just a math note Teacherman.
Punter got 3 million per year. Veteran minimum is 1 million per year.
Brederson got 7 million per year.
So total 10 million for 2 players vs 14 million per season for one.
You may be right on Grady Jarrett, clearly above average defender. But is he clearly more a difference maker than having a hole at left guard on offensive line, having Logan Hall and having a reliable punter.
March 11th, 2025 at 1:24 pm
Finished 9th in the NFL last year. 6th in landing punts inside the 20.
Also a former QB with good fake punt ability. Definitely a good pickup and will keep defenses guessing with trick plays in addition to good punting. Also a proven veteran which will bring some stability to the position.
March 11th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Licht will probably spend a third round on a punter to give him competition.
March 11th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Good deal, 2 years. Jason is doing well.
March 11th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
JL is in his groove!
LFG!!!!
March 11th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
Be aware that balls carry farther in lighter air of Colorado
March 11th, 2025 at 2:17 pm
Bucs Guy Says:
March 11th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
That’s NET average.
March 11th, 2025 at 2:20 pm
The CFL guy isn’t out of the question. Even if Dixon’s money is guaranteed, it’s still not so much that you wouldn’t happily eat it if the CFL guy – Jake Julien – proves to be a better option.
March 11th, 2025 at 2:29 pm
JTS is gone – good
March 11th, 2025 at 2:48 pm
Teacherman: Logan Hall had more sacks last year than Jarrett had for the last 2 years. I know a lot of Bucs fans don’t like Hall, but he played pretty well (from what I saw) last year.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
excellent! now we can use a late draft on any other position
March 11th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
The 2024 holes are being filled nicely. Still need a MLB and CB or 2 of each. It’s all coming together. Bring on September!
March 11th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
Looking at his numbers, they’re not all that impressive considering he played in Denver. If you just look at his road games, the numbers are even less impressive. Still, he’s a big upgrade over what the Bucs had, which was the worst punter in the NFL by a mile – who was way worse than Camarda – still a baffling move unless there was something going on off the field.
Anywho, I wonder how much of that $6m is guaranteed?
March 11th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
Gang, I saw somewhere that Carmada signed with another team.
Can’t remember which one though.
As for Dixon, he seems to have decent stats and he’s got some experience.
It’s not like we’re having to break in a rookie. (Although Carmada certainly had a good rookie season).
To me, Jason Licht is living up to his reputation again, for getting solid players signed at prices that are team friendly.
March 11th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
net average is dependent on coverage teem.
March 11th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Great addition. Needed a veteran guy, like this. Totally surprised, but great move, AGAIN.. what a start to FA. Now go lock up the backups we need to keep around. Nelson is one… plenty to go!
March 11th, 2025 at 9:01 pm
3 million for an average punter that punted in thin air seems high plus the no taxes in florida.
March 11th, 2025 at 9:56 pm
Good player and no draft pick – what is not to like.