Punter Bryan Anger reverses course and re-signs with Cowboys

After one of the best seasons by a punter in Dallas Cowboys franchise history, the team announced that free agent Bryan Anger will be returning on a three-year extension worth $9 million. Anger signed a one-year deal worth just over $1 million ahead of the 2021 season. He earned himself a much bigger paycheck after setting a new organization record by netting an average of 44.6 yards per punt last year (tied for fourth-best in NFL history). The punter also received his first Pro Bowl selection in his ten-year career.

Initially, word on the street was that Anger would not be returning to the Cowboys. Michael Gehlken reported that the Cowboys planned to let the punter walk in free agency given that he was shopping for a lucrative deal after a breakout season. In the end, that lucrative deal ended up coming from Stephen and Jerry Jones. Anger now joins Jake McQuaide on the list of specialists re-signed. The Cowboys are still in need of a kicker after understandably releasing Greg Zuerlein.

This is certainly top dollar for a punter. This deal makes Anger the third-highest paid in the league at 33 years old. Many are arguing that while the punter certainly was great at his job in 2021, the front office could have used this money to sign names like Za’Darius Smith or Bobby Wagner. Punter is typically a position where it isn’t all that important to have the best in the league on your roster.

The Dallas Cowboys re-sign Pro Bowl punter Bryan Anger to a three-year contract worth $9 million

This yet again proves that the Cowboys’ motto this offseason is all about staying in-house and keeping continuity. Keep in mind that Dallas still technically has Hunter Niswander on the roster who was unable to steal the starting job from Anger last year.

In addition to his punting skills, Anger brings veteran experience to the squad. The punter was a third-round draft pick out of Cal Berkeley by the Jacksonville Jaguars back in the 2012 NFL Draft. He played four seasons in Jacksonville, three in Tampa Bay, and two in Houston before landing with the Cowboys. In all ten years of his career, Anger impressively has only one season where he played in less than 16 games. He played 14 games in 2019 while with the Texans.

Let’s hope that his durability and longevity as a specialist continue for the next three years. He will likely be an important person and potential role model for whoever the Cowboys end up choosing as their kicker for 2022. Welcome back, Bryan!