Do punters matter in today’s NFL?

Jamie Gillan punting against the Giants in 2020The recent revolution in NFL football that emphasizes offense over all else has changed the outlook on the kicking game. Long-held ideas about time of possession, field position, run the ball and stop the run are going by the wayside. In their place is a new NFL that increasingly values passing and pass defense, explosive plays and quick drives, and going for it on fourth down.

The New York Giants parted ways this off-season with their punter of the past few years, Riley Dixon. Dixon performed well when he first came to the Giants, but his punting declined thereafter. With a $2.9M per year contract, according to Spotrac, Joe Schoen decided that…