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What the Kansas City Chiefs might miss the most with P Tommy Townsend expected to hit free agency

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Charles Goldman | Last updated Feb 23, 2024 3:03 PM ET

The writing is on the wall for Tommy Townsend's future with the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the 2024 NFL free agency period. The team's signing former Buffalo Bills P Matt Araiza on Thursday suggests that they don't expect to be able to re-sign Townsend in free agency.

The University of Florida product first joined the Chiefs in 2020 and has been a pivotal part of their success over the past several seasons. In 2022, he earned a First-Team All-Pro selection on the back of a tremendous year punting the ball. In total, he amassed 201 punts for 9,533 yards and a 47.4-yard per punt average during the regular season. 82 of his punts landed inside of the 20-yard line and none of his punts were returned for touchdowns.

His consistency will be hard to replace, but one unique aspect of Townsend's game might be missed even more.

Tommy Townsend excelled at fake punts

Araiza has every bit of leg that Townsend has, but where he might be lacking is in a seldom-used trick play.

The Chiefs often relied on Townsend for fake punts. He completed 75% of his pass attempts in Kansas City, with basically one fake punt per season during his four years with the team. He picked up three first downs with every completion traveling 11 yards or more.

His most recent successful fake punt came against the Raiders in the team's Christmas Day loss at Arrowhead Stadium.

TOMMY DARTS pic.twitter.com/N4NMcrBhGs
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 25, 2023

Sometimes fake punts can be the difference between a win or a loss. It wasn't in the Raiders game, but rest assured that special teams coordinator Dave Toub will cook up something different without Townsend's arm at his disposal.

Fake punts might be different with Matt Araiza

It looks like Araiza will be the team's punter in 2024 after he signed a one-year minimum contract with the Chiefs. Expect the team will bring in some competition to the 90-man offseason roster after the draft. For now, we can view Araiza as a potential starter.

Where Townsend came out of college having executed several successful fake punts in the passing game and the running game, Araiza doesn't have any to his name. Araiza once failed to convert a fake punt on fourth-and-long against Boise State in 2021, but that was not a great situation for any punter to be put in.

If Araiza does happen to have his number called on a fake punt with the Chiefs, it might look a bit different. He might not have arm talent like Townsend, but he's a great athlete.

This punter's got a leg AND WHEELS.@AztecFB standout @matt_araiza with a 4.72u. Look out for him on fake punts.

: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/xOhKZ8zKOV
— NFL (@NFL) March 6, 2022