Off Season Look at NFL Long Snapping Situations

Posted on February 26, 2017 by longsnap

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It has already been an active off season for snappers in the NFL.  To date, an unprecedented 10 snappers have signed contracts for next season.  Further, a few veteran snappers have signed contract extensions, including Greg Warren (Steelers), Charley Hughlett (Browns) and, most recently, Zak DeOssie (Giants).

With the NFL Combine about to start and veteran free agency getting underway right after that, it is a good time to take a quick look at each NFL team and the current snapping situation.

There are still eight veteran snappers who will soon become unrestricted free agents if not resigned before March 9th.  Injured Andrew DePaola of the Bucs is the only pending restricted free agent.

It would not be a surprise if a few more of the unrestricted free agent snappers sign contracts to return to their team, either just before or shortly after the free agency period starts.

Below is an updated chart of each team’s snapping situation and, if applicable,  the free agency status of the existing snapper.

2017 Off Season Snapping Chart

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Eagles Top Gosselin Special Teams Rankings

Posted on February 24, 2017 by longsnap

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Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News recently published his annual rankings of NFL special teams units.  The rankings, based on 22 different kicking game categories, assigns points for each category, with the best team finishing with the lowest amount of points.

This year, Philadelphia finished first where they have been for two of the last three seasons.  Detroit was second, followed by Kansas City, the Rams and Baltimore.  San Diego’s units were the lowest ranked.

If there was any doubt about the importance of special teams, seven of the top 11 special teams units made the playoffs.

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Dolphins Sign Winston Chapman

Posted on February 21, 2017 by longsnap

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A tenth snapper has been signed to a future contract for next season.  Winston Chapman, who snapped at Mississippi State, has signed his first NFL contract with the Miami Dolphins.  Veteran snapper John Denney will become a free agent next month if the Dolphins do not sign him to a new deal.

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Hughlett Signs Extension with Browns; Steelers Add Canaday

Posted on February 21, 2017 by longsnap

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Last week, the Browns signed snapper Charley Hughlett to a new six-year contract extension through  the 2022 season.  Hughlett has been the snapper in Cleveland for the past two seasons.

The Steelers, who recently signed veteran Greg Warren to a one-year contract, also added some competition today by signing former Cardinals snapper Kameron Canaday.

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Northnagel Joins Holba to Snap at NFL Scouting Combine

Posted on February 15, 2017 by longsnap

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For the first time in almost a decade, the NFL Scouting Combine will feature two long snappers.  It was announced a few weeks ago that Colin Holba of Louisville would snap at the Combine.  It was assumed that Holba would be the only snapper invite, as the past seven Combines have included just one snapper.

However, with the official list now released, snapper Bradley Northnagel of Cal has also been invited to the event that starts at the end of this month.  Hopefully, this will reverse the trend of inviting one snapper.

In 2006, when the Combine first added long snappers, three were invited.  Three were also invited in 2007 and then the number went down to two for 2008 and 2009 before eventually going to one where it has stayed until this year.

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Dellenbach Signs with the Bucs

Posted on February 8, 2017 by longsnap

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Another snapper has benefited from a strong workout at the Husted Kicking combine and turned it into a contract.  Dax Dellenbach has signed with the Bucs after a long snapper workout yesterday that included Kameron Canaday and client Derek Hart.

Dellenbach, who was with Tampa Bay in rookie mini-camp last year, joins Jesse Schmitt (Packers) and Josh Latham (Jets) as snappers who earned contracts after working out for pro teams at the Husted Kicking combine during the Senior Bowl week.  Dellenbach is also the eighth snapper to sign a contract for next season.

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Holba Invited to Combine

Posted on February 4, 2017 by longsnap

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Colin Holba of Louisville has been honored with the two post-season invitations every college prospect covets.  Holba, who has already snapped in the Senior Bowl, will next perform at the NFL Scouting Combine in early March.

It is believed that Holba is the only long snapper invited to compete at the Combine in Indianapolis.

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Latest Snapping and Coaching Moves

Posted on February 2, 2017 by longsnap

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There were a few developments this past week involving snappers and special teams coaches.  The Steelers have re-signed veteran Greg Warren for another season, while the Jets added Josh Latham, who previously snapped at Sacramento State.  Latham is the second snapper to be signed from the Husted Kicking workout in Mobile, Alabama and the seventh snapper to sign a contract for next season.

A former snapper, Brad Banta, who had been an assistant special teams coach in Washington, is now the special teams coach of the Saints, while the 49ers have filled their vacancy with former Bears assistant special teams coach Richard Hightower.

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NFL Special Teams Coaching Update

Posted on January 30, 2017 by longsnap

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There will be at least five teams with new special teams coaches next season in the NFL.  To date, Joe DeCamillis has moved from the Broncos to the Jaguars, while former Kansas City assistant special teams coach Brock Olivo takes over in Denver.  George Stewart will coach special teams for the Chargers.

Both the Saints and Niners have the only remaining special teams coaching vacancies that will likely be filled soon.

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Packers Add Pepper

Posted on January 29, 2017 by longsnap

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Another team added a snapper for next season, as the Packers have signed former Michigan State snapper Taylor Pepper to the roster for next season.  Pepper worked out for the Packers in late December.  Pepper is the sixth snapper to be signed to a future deal with an NFL club.

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