GLENDALE — The Arizona Cardinals made splashy moves this offseason, signing Pro Bowl talent like Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell, while locking in tight end Trey McBride to a multi-year deal. But when Bleacher Report highlighted each team’s top extension candidate, the Cardinals’ name stood out for an unexpected reason.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Bleacher Report’s Moe Molton listed every team’s most important extension candidate heading into next season. The Cardinals were the lone team mentioned to have their candidate be a special teams player in punter Blake Gillikin.
Oct 29, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin (12) at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Molton on Gillikin’s importance to Cardinals:
“Punters deserve raises, too. This offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders made AJ Cole the highest-paid punter. Gillikin doesn’t have Cole’s Pro Bowl/All-Pro accolades for a big-money extension, but he’s done a good job booming kicks downfield. Last season, he tied for fifth in yards per punt and tied for fourth in percentage of punts that pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line, thanks in part to the Cardinals’ kick coverage team.
Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin (12) against the Washington Commanders at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Gillikin signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent and played two seasons with the franchise. In New Orleans, he had 160 punts and 47 yards per punt, with only 11 touchbacks. Before the 2023 season, the Saints would of waived Gillikin, leaving him teamless for six weeks. before the Cardinals took a chance on the 27-year-old.
The former Penn State grad had an impressive debut season with Arizona, recording 50.6 yards per punt. Ossenfort would sign Gillikin to a two-year contract the following offseason, where he again had posted a 49.7-yard average per punt
average in 13 games last year. Gillikin is entering the final year of his two-year, $3.7 million deal and has earned a long term extension.
Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin (12) against the Washington Commanders at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Seattle Seahawks Michael Dickson is the highest paid punter in the league with a $3.7 million salary in 2025, with Gillikin sitting at 19th overall. After proving his first season with the Cardinals wasn’t a fluke, Gillikin is worthy of being one of the top punters in the league to ensure the team’s special teams is a stable special teams anchor.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
