The Philadelphia Eagles decided to come out of training camp without a punter or a kick returner, leaving many fans concerned about the state of the special teams unit.
Recent cuts have left a few viable options on waivers but the Eagles have yet to officially sign anyone for the job.
However, Howie Roseman and the front office might have their eyes on a recent Green Bay Packers player.
The Packers recently released Pat O’Donnell, who served as the starting punter for all 17 games last year.
Is Pat O’Donnell A Good Fit In Philadelphia?
Drafted in 2014, O’Donnell has been in the NFL for nine seasons. He spent his first eight seasons in the NFC North with the Chicago Bears before taking the Lambeau Leap and signing with Green Bay last season.
O’Donnell has never been known for having a big leg but he’s an accurate punter with a knack for pinning opposing teams inside the 20. He’s pinned at least 24 punts inside the 20-yard line in 7 of his 9 NFL seasons while averaging a healthy 45.1 yards and 40.4 net yards per punt for his career.
Last season, O’Donnell didn’t get many punting opportunities but still made the most of them when he had the chance. While his 2,313 punt yards ranked 28th in the league, O’Donnell managed to pin a career-high 46.2 percent of his punts inside the 20.
Eagles fans know the importance of having a good punter. With the Eagles’ defense expected to be one of the best in the league, winning the field position battle could be the difference in some of the most important games of the year.
What Other Options Are Out There?
The Eagles have been linked to Pittsburgh Steelers punter Braden Mann, but there’s been no indication that Roseman will deal draft capital for a punter.
Aside from O’Donnell, Corliss Waitman and Blake Gillikin are among the other punters who could be brought in for a tryout.
It’s also entirely possible that the Eagles’ roster cuts were strategic and Arryn Sippos’ demotion to the practice squad was simply a way to keep the most talented players in Philadelphia.
So, don’t be surprised if Sippos ends up being the Week 1 punter when it’s all said and done.
