The Miami Dolphins filled their punter vacancy on Friday by signing veteran Thomas Morstead, according to a league source.
Mostead, 36, a longtime New Orleans Saints punter, visited Dolphins facilities on Wednesday before deciding to join the team on Friday.
Signing the veteran gives Miami one fewer team need going into draft later this month. Before pursuing Morstead, it was conceivable the Dolphins were set to use one of their four draft picks, with two in the seventh round, on a college punting prospect.
Morstead spent the first 12 of his 13 NFL seasons in New Orleans, where he was teammates with Dolphins’ free-agent left tackle acquisition Terron Armstead. Morstead is a one-time Pro Bowl selection, in 2012, while winning a Super Bowl that took place in South Florida as a member of the 2009 Saints.
Then a rookie for New Orleans, Morstead can be largely credited for turning the momentum in the Saints’ favor against the Indianapolis Colts at Hard Rock Stadium with his memorable onside kick to start the second half. Trailing 10-6 at the time, the Saints went on to win the Super Bowl, 31-17.
He split time in 2021 between the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets, playing in seven games apiece for each team. Despite the two teams facing the Dolphins a combined three times last season, he did not punt against Miami.
Morstead owns a career average of 46.6 yards on his punts.
The signing means the Dolphins are moving on from Michael Palardy, a Margate native and St. Thomas Aquinas High alum, as punter. Palardy, a free agent who was not re-signed, struggled early in the season but found his groove in the second half. He posted a 44.7 yards-per-punt average, and he and gunner Mack Hollins combined to down multiple balls in close to opponents’ goal lines.
Hollins, also a wide receiver, was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. Dolphins free-agent acquisitions of cornerback Keion Crossen and wide receiver Trent Sherfield can fill that void on special teams.
Morstead becomes the oldest player on Miami’s roster, surpassing defensive tackle John Jenkins, 32, who re-signed with the team on Thursday.
On Friday, the Dolphins also brought in linebacker Reuben Foster for a workout.
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