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Jamie Gillan

Giants Waive CB Nick McCloud

November 5th, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Ely Allen

During a mostly anticlimactic trade deadline today, there was a dramatic transaction in New York, where the Giants shockingly waived cornerback Nick McCloud after starting him in five games this year, according to Giants senior managing editor Dan Salomone. Additionally, the team released veteran punter Matt Haack.

The Giants claimed McCloud off waivers after he was waived by the Bills, Bengals, and Bills a second time after going undrafted in 2021. Since arriving in New York, McCloud has found a consistent contributing role, starting 16 games in 38 appearances since 2022. After three years of favorable grades from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), McCloud is having a down year analytically, grading out as the 104th-best cornerback out of 110 players graded in the league.

Though he hasn’t played up to his potential this year, McCloud still provided some essential versatility to an injury-riddled secondary, being able to roam to the nickel and safety positions when needed. The need to waive McCloud was exacerbated by a want for cap space. According to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, the Giants approached McCloud about taking a pay cut to open up some much-needed cap space and help them navigate the remainder of the season financially. McCloud declined the pay cut and now finds himself in free agency.

Haack was signed to help fill in for regular punter Jamie Gillan. Gillan was questionable heading into the team’s Week 6 matchup with a hamstring injury, and Haack came in to relieve him for the next four games as injury continued to limit Gillan’s availability. With Haack being released, it could be assumed that Gillan is soon to come off the injury report and return to play.

Giants To Sign P Matt Haack

October 12th, 2024 at 11:16am CST by Ben Levine

Giants punter Jamie Gillan is questionable for Week 6, so the team has added a veteran punter to their roster. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Giants are signing punter Matt Haack.

Haack brings 99 games of regular-season experience to New York. The former UDFA out of Arizona State started his career in Miami, where he served as the Dolphins full-time punter between 2017 and 2020. Since then, the veteran has bounced around the NFL, spending time with four different squads (including a pair of stints with the Bills).

After getting into 17 games with the Colts in 2022, Haack struggled to hold a job in 2023. He ended up making a single appearance with the Browns, averaging 51.7 yards on his three punts. He caught on with the Bills late during the 2023 campaign and spent most of the offseason with Buffalo before earning his walking papers in May.

Now, he’ll have a chance to revive his career with the Giants. Gillan is dealing with a hamstring injury, putting his availability for tomorrow night’s game in doubt. To prepare for their starter’s potential absence, the Giants worked out five punters yesterday. In addition to Haack, the organization also considered the likes of Nolan Cooney, Pressley Harvin, Lou Hedley, and Ty Zentner.

Giants To Re-Sign P Jamie Gillan, LS Casey Kreiter

March 13th, 2023 at 9:15am CST by Adam La Rose

9:15am: Kreiter is also re-signing with the Giants, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (on Twitter). His one-year deal will put him place for a fourth season in New York, and allow the team to return all three members of their kicking battery from 2022 for the coming season.

8:23am: The Giants have already had a busy offseason by retaining several members of their offense, but continuity will also be found for their special teams unit. New York is re-signing punter Jamie Gillan to a two-year, $4MM contract (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network).

The ‘Scottish Hammer’ spent the first three seasons of his career with the Browns after he won a training camp competition in 2019. His average of 46.2 yards per punt as a rookie helped earn him an extended look in Cleveland, though his performance in that regard dipped over the following two seasons. He was waived in December 2021.

That led to his Giants tenure beginning this past season. The 25-year-old had a generally strong debut campaign in the Big Apple, recording a career-high 74 punts. His average on those (46.8) also set a new personal mark, and his net punting average topped 40 for the first time since his rookie year. While he will aim to drop his touchback percentage (12.2%) in the coming years, he will have stability for the short-term future.

The Giants will now have at least two-thirds of their kicking operation in place for 2023. Kicker Graham Gano has one year remaining on his current contract, but long snapper Casey Kreiter is a pending free agent. Gillan, though, will look to build off of his 2022 success with his financial future in place.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 2/7/22

February 7th, 2022 at 2:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s Reserve/Futures contracts signed around the league:

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Giants 

New England Patriots

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/24/21

December 24th, 2021 at 4:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the league’s practice squad moves from Christmas Eve:

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/22/21

December 22nd, 2021 at 3:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/9/21

December 9th, 2021 at 3:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

Browns To Trade Or Release Britton Colquitt

August 31st, 2019 at 1:16pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns informed Jamie Gillan that he has won the punting job, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). With “The Scottish Hammer” booting the ball, the Browns will make Britton Colquitt available in one fashion or another.

Colquitt has been a successful punter with multiple stops in the NFL, and was named a Pro Bowl alternate last year. However, Gillan, a rookie from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, edged him out this summer.

There are at least a handful of teams with shaky punting situations and Colquitt figures to be at the top of most lists.

Browns Sign 15 UDFAs

May 3rd, 2019 at 12:48pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Browns are the latest team to formally announce their undrafted free agent class. Overall, Cleveland inked 15 additional rookies to supplement their draft class, which did not include a first round pick.

  • Dorian Baker, WR (Kentucky)
  • David Blough, QB (Purdue)
  • Stephen Carlson, TE (Princeton)
  • Brian Fineanganofo, OT (Idaho State)
  • Jamie Gillan, P (Arkansas Pine-Bluff)
  • Darrin Hall, RB (Pittsburgh)
  • J.T. Hassell, S (Florida Tech)
  • D.J. Montgomery, WR (Austin Peay)
  • Jarrell Owens, DE (Oklahoma State)
  • Jermaine Ponder, CB (Saint Francis Pa.)
  • Wyatt Ray, DE (Boston College)
  • Anthony Stubbs, LB (Prairie View A&M)
  • Trevon Tate, C (Memphis)
  • Willie Wright, C (Tulsa)
  • Dedrick Young II, LB (Nebraska)

Many analysts thought that Ray would get drafted, so he might have one of the best chances of making the team. He was productive for Boston College last season in his first year as a starter, notching 11.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Gillian is another interesting player in this class. Nicknamed the ‘Scottish Hammer’, he’s extremely versatile and handled both punting and kicking duties in college.

The Browns did just draft kicker Austin Seibert in the fifth round and most people project Gillian as more of a punter in the pro game. He should have the chance to battle it out with Britton Colquitt in camp. Baker didn’t see too much action because of Kentucky’s run-first offense, but he’s a big receiver who’s very strong, and he could be a decent flyer.