The Denver Broncos cut ties with Sam Martin this past offseason in favor of Corliss Waitman, who has been absolutely terrible for Denver in 2022. Nothing has gone right for the Broncos this year, and that applies to the special teams, which has been its normal poor-performing unit.
It hasn’t been talked about nearly as much as the offense, and perhaps that’s because the ST unit has been bad for just as long and they don’t have Russell Wilson on that side of the ball. Brandon McManus hasn’t been anything special this year and has missed some makeable field goals.
I could argue that the Broncos should look to bring in another kicker for 2023 and cut ties with McManus to save on the salary cap. He isn’t cutting it anymore, although he cannot be faulted for not making the 63-yard field goal at the end of the Ravens’ game.
However, punter Corliss Waitman has been terrible for the Broncos this year, and his poor punting was on full display on Sunday. He punted the pigskin seven times for 288 yards, a 41.1 yards per punt average.
After today, his yards per punt average will fall to just 46 yards per boot. Sam Martin, who the Broncos cut this offseason for Waitman, is averaging 48.1 yards per punt, the second-highest total of his now 10-year career.
Cutting Martin to save pennies against the salary cap was a dumb move by George Paton. Martin is a proven commodity in the NFL and Waitman had punted the ball literally seven times in the NFL before coming to Denver.
Evidence piling up against Denver Broncos GM George Paton
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Let this be a lesson that trying to save money against the salary cap is not always the right move. The special teams unit has been a disaster once again. Waitman can’t punt, McManus occasionally misses routine kicks, and the return game is simply non-existent.
I think Denver should at least consider bringing in a new punter for the 2023 season.