Should the Chiefs Release Dustin Colquitt?

The idea of punting the punter has been… well… punted about this offseason and it’s time to take a look at whether or not that might be a good idea or not.

Dustin Colquitt is without question one of the best punters in the National Football League and has been for quite some time. From Sportrac.com, in 2013,

“Dustin Colquitt signed a 5 year, $18,750,000 contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, including a $4,000,000 signing bonus, $7,900,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3,750,000. In 2017, Colquitt will earn a base salary of $4,050,000 and a workout bonus of $50,000. Colquitt has a cap hit of $4,900,000 while his dead money value is $800,000.”

On May 6, of this year, Colquitt will turn 35 years old which makes him the oldest Kansas City Chief. However, by punter standards, he is not that old.

If the Chiefs were to cut Dustin Colquitt it might have to be following the NFL draft in April so the team can secure the services of a top punter in this year’s prospect auction.

Dustin Colquitt is from a family with a rich tradition as punters. His father, Craig Colquitt, used to be a punter in the NFL and has a couple of Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl rings to show for it. His cousin Jimmy Colquitt is also a former NFL punter. His younger brother Britton is still a punter in the league and his younger cousin, Greg, is a punter at Tennessee University.

In the NFL, you could say that the Colquitt’s are to punting… what the Manning’s are to quarterbacking. Now, if Dustin can just get that Super Bowl ring… then the circle would be complete.The guy should change his middle name — whose actual middle name, ironically, is “Farr” — to “Inside-the-ten.” Actually, Farr is a better middle name so we’ll stick with that. After all, there are only 14 punters in the

The guy should change his middle name — whose actual middle name, ironically, is “Farr” — to “Inside-the-ten.” Actually, Farr is a better middle name so we’ll stick with that. After all, there are only 14 punters in the history of the NFL who have a better yards-per-punt average.

But wait… this is a piece about whether or not the Chiefs should release Dustin Colquitt.

So, who could the Chiefs get to replace the legend of Dustin Colquitt? If I was doin’ the hog- tradin’ this little chit-chat would come down to… Austin Rehkow vs. Dustin Colquitt. One or the other: the Chiefs either make sure they draft Rehkow or the deal’s off.

I don’t see any other punters in this draft who I can make a case for drafting… while suggesting the release of Colquitt. Here’s why,

Autin Rehkow is special. When Colquitt came out of college in 2004 (drafted in 2005) his average yards-per-punt was 42.6. For Rehkow, that number is: 45.8 yard-per-punt over a 4-year career. He also has 75 kicks inside the 20-yard line. The other aspect to Rehkow is that he is also the field-goal kicker. He made 22 out of 24 in his senior year and 45 out of 51 in the past two years plus a 50 yarder. However, Rehkow is going to make in the NFL as a punter but… you know how GM John Dorsey and Andy Reid like players who are multi-talented.

CBS Sports ranks Rehkow as the 199th best prospect in this draft which places him in the 5th of 6th rounds value-wise… according to the so-called experts.  In the 2005 draft, Dustin Colquitt was drafted in the third round, 99th overall.

The only criticism of Rehkow that I have heard is that his figures have dropped off a little in his senior year but like any player, you have ups and downs from year-to-year. Just ask Jeremy Maclin (at least we hope that was just a down year for him and that an “up” year is about to commence in full).

Since the Kansas City Chiefs have 10 draft picks to use this year, investing in a 4th rounder to secure the Chiefs next great punter for the next ten to fifteen years would not be out of the question to me. I can recall what the Chiefs were like before Dustin Colquitt and watching other teams beat them at the field position game was at times unbearable. However, if the Chiefs can’t get Austin Rehkow, then I’d say stick with the man you’ve got.

It goes without saying that the Chiefs could use the extra $4M or so that they would add to the cap by releasing Dustin Colquitt. I’m just not wanting to see them do that prior to free agency. By waiting until June — and taking a player such as Austin Rehkow in April — it frees up money to sign players who are usually a much better value in early, or late, summer transactions, players who find themselves jettisoned from other teams for one reason or another.

The other point I’d like to make about a possible change at the punter position — for those who are leery about letting a great punter walk — is that a big part of the reason Colquitt has continued to progress the past four years is… special teams coach Dave Toub. Andy Reid reiterated this week what a wonderful coach Toub is and that he deserves to be a head coach one day. So, bringing in a new rookie punter now — when Toub is still in the pocket — should help ease that transition and help make the Chiefs special teams a top five unit once again.

What do you think Chiefs fans? Willing to give this rookie — Austin Rehkow — a try?