The Buccaneers have waived punter Jake Camarda, a 2022 fifth-round pick who failed to live up to expectations in his first three seasons.
Camarda played in Tampa Bay’s first four games this season, averaging just 36.5 net yards per punt, the second-lowest in the NFL. The Buccaneers then turned to former Bears punter Trenton Gill, elevating him from the practice squad for their last three games.
After Monday night’s loss to the Ravens, Gil was all out of elevations, forcing Tampa Bay to promote him to the 53-man roster if they wanted him to continue punting duties.
Camarda was a highly-touted punting prospect out of the University of Georgia, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors and was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award given out to the best punter in college football. Camarda was the second punter drafted in 2022, selected with the 133rd overall pick in the fourth round just three spots after the Ravens drafted Penn State punter Jordan Stout.
The former Bulldog did not struggle with power in the NFL, ranking fifth in gross yards per punt in each of his first two seasons. However, his 41.4 net yards per punt in 2022 and 41.2 in 2023 ranked 12th and 20th, respectively, indicating an issue with his ability to minimize return yardage.
Those numbers dropped precipitously in 2024, with Camarda averaging just 45.3 gross yards per punt, the fourth-lowest in the league. Gill, however, ranks dead-last with 41.3 gross yards per punt, though his 38.3 net yards per punt exceeds Camarda’s.
Camarda leaves the Buccaneers as the franchise’s leading punter at 49.0 gross yards per punt, per The Athletic’s Greg Auman.
