Jamie Gillan was the best rookie punter of the last five years

Gillan was the No. 3 overall punter in 2019 as a rookie

At this time a year ago, nobody thought much about the undrafted rookie punter/kicker from Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Jamie Gillan was just a camp leg designed to keep veteran punter Britton Colquitt from overworking, or so many believed.

Gillan quickly proved more than some camp curiosity. Once he proved he could function as the holder on placekicks, Gillan supplanted Colquitt as the Browns’ punter. The rocked-up, long-haired Scotsman won over the fans quickly, too.

The gamble on Gillan paid off. He captured the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in September and wound up in the top 10 in both gross and net punting in his rookie campaign. His great season was the best for any rookie punter that Pro Football Focus has graded since the start of 2015.

Gillan finished third overall among NFL punters in 2019. That’s one spot above the man whose job he usurped, Colquitt, who latched on with Minnesota. Way to go, Hammer!