Dolphins settle camp competition a week early, cut former All-Pro while naming a starter ahead of roster trim deadline

Stonehouse signed with Miami this offseason and was reunited with his former special teams coordinator in Tennessee, Craig Aukerman. Aukerman took the special teams coordinator position this offseason from Danny Crossman, who had held the job since 2019 but was dismissed after yet another underwhelming year of special teams performances in 2024.

The arrival of Aukerman has shaken up Miami's status quo on special teams and many felt as though that would extend to the punter position but Miami's hesitancy to release Bailey upon signing Stonehouse made it evident that no job was going to be simply given on this front. It would need to be earned.

When asked about the decision on Tuesday, Aukerman tipped his cap to both contenders.

"Jake Bailey ended up winning it. Hats off to both of those guys, they did a really good job. Competitive every single day. Again, really proud of them. I know Ryan is going to be punting somewhere in the National Football League. We just felt going forward that Jake would be our guy, really happy with the consistency that he's been throughout camp. Whether that's field punts, plus the 50, the preseason games. Super proud to work with him and excited for him, too," said Aukerman.

Bailey had several years of holding for kicker Jason Sanders on field goals in his back pocket to further fortify his argument for the position and it seems as though all of the evidence mounted in Miami not making this change along with all of the other changes on special teams going into 2025.