New York Giants 2024 Training Camp Preview: P Jamie Gillan
The New York Giants have leaned on Jamie Gillan to flip the field for the defense for the past two seasons. He joined the team in 2022 after spending his first three years in Cleveland.
Gillan was known for launching big punts, including a 71-yard punt during his rookie season. Over the next two seasons, he experienced some consistency issues. He saw his average yards per punt drop over two yards from his rookie season, and the Browns decided to move on.
After joining New York, Gillan rediscovered the success he enjoyed in his first season with the Browns. Nicknamed the Scottish Hammer by his high school coach thanks to his Scottish roots, Gillan’s attendance at an HBCU helped shape him for the challenges he’d face at the NFL level.
Given the Giants' offense's struggles, Gillan has been kept busy. After punting a season-high 63 times in Cleveland, the last two seasons have seen Gillan punt 74 and 95 times for the Giants.
Yet despite the increased workload, his production remained high. He excelled with hangtime and his net punt average was over 40 yards per punt this past season. Sixty-one of his punts have been downed inside the 20-yard line, and he’s only had one punt blocked over the past two seasons.
One of the things former special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughet implemented on the punt team when Gillan arrived was a rugby-style punt that allowed Gillan, who has a rugby background, to feel more comfortable in certain high-leverage or pressure situations.
That helped increase his consistency when the stakes were high, and it kept punt return units guessing what was coming next.
Now in his third year with the Giants and first with new special teams coordinator Michael Ghorbrial, Gillan will need to take the next step in his game, which comes back to consistency.
JAMIE GILLAN, P
Height: 6-1
Weight: 207 lbs.
Exp: 6
School: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
How Acquired: FA-22
2023 in Review
In 2023, Gillan improved in almost every category. He punted a career-high 95 times and didn’t have any blocked. He had more punts downed inside the 20-yard line (35, a career-high) than he did in 2022 (26), and he reduced his touchbacks from nine in his first season with the team to four.
His 42.2 net yards per punt was the highest of his career and an almost three-yard improvement from his first season with the Giants. Additionally, he had six games where he averaged over 49 yards per punt, one more than in 2022.
Yet when you look at his overall career, it’s easy to see why Gillan has struggled to be a top-10 punter. The issue has been consistency or rather a lack of it.
He was third in the NFL in total punts and punt yardage which speaks to how much the Giants relied on him and highlighted his durability as a player. However, his 46 yards per punt was only good for 26th in the NFL.
The positives were that his 42.2 net yards per punt was 12th best in the NFL and his career-high 35 punts downed inside the 20 was good for third best in the league.
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Contract/Cap Info
Gillan signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the New York Giants that includes a $1 million signing bonus and $1 million guaranteed. His average annual salary is $2 million.
In 2024, Gillan will earn a base salary of $1.63 million, a roster bonus of $250,000, and a workout bonus of $20,000. He carries a cap hit of $2.4 million and has a dead cap value of $750,000.
2024 Preview
The 2024 season is a big one for Gillan because he is in the final year of his contract. While he's been dependable, he has not ascended to the level of the upper echelon of punters in the league.
He has a new special teams coordinator, which should also fuel his performance. The offense should also be improved based on having fewer injuries on the offensive side.
Gillan has all the tools to be elite, and 2024 should be the year he puts them all together. If not, he could be looking for another home in 2025, as teams will not pay his type of money for decent play.
GENE CLEMONS
Gene "Coach" Clemons has been involved with the game of football for 30 years as a player, coach, evaluator, and journalist. Clemons has spent time writing for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, Bridgton News, Urbana Daily Citizen, Macon Telegraph and footballgameplan.com. He has a YouTube channel called "Coach Gene Clemons" where you can find his popular "X&O The Joes" series as well as other football related content.