Do they really need two?

The San Francisco 49ers were largely able to keep their special teams unit intact this offseason, but one big change will be at punter. The team moved on from veteran Thomas Morstead and signed Corliss Waitman. Yet, they may not be done at the punter position as special teams coordinator Brant Boyer reportedly had a private meeting with Jack Stonehouse just days before the 2026 NFL Draft.

If you cannot access the post, he writes: “Syracuse punter Jack Stonehouse had a private meeting with 49ers special teams coordinator Brant Boyer today, source said. San Francisco has expressed interest in Stonehouse ‘throughout the process,’ and the team is expected to add a punter either through the draft or in the UDFA bucket.”

Niners fans have to be hoping the team does not burn a draft pick on a punter. The last time San Francisco drafted a special teams player was back in 2023 with kicker Jake Moody and that did not work out at all.

The San Francisco 49ers could have a punter competition on their hands

Maybe if Stonehose goes undrafted the Niners could sign him to the practice squad, but it seems like it would be foolhardy to burn a pick on a punter when there are other much more pressing needs to address.

Stonehouse punted the ball 59 times last season for Syracuse. He averaged 47 yards per punt and pinned opponents in their own twenty 14 times. His longest punt of the year went 64 yards.

Compare that to Waitman who averaged 45 yards per punt last season for the Pittsburgh Steelers and pinned opponents in their own twenty 26 times on 62 attempts and it seems clear that he would be the favorite even if the Niners do end up adding Stonehouse.

Waitman also punts with his left foot and a lot of special teams coordinators like that because it puts a different spin on the ball that returners may struggle with more.

It was a bit disappointing that the 49ers did not pursue a reunion with punter Bradley Pinion in free agency. The former Niners punter has become one of the better punters in the NFL but ended up signing with the Miami Dolphins where he will be alongside another former 49ers special teams player in long snapper Taybor Pepper.

Waitman was a cheaper option compared to Pinion and Boyer turned the special teams unit around last season so his judgment should be trusted, at least for now.

But if the Niners do either draft or sign Stonehouse, maybe they will have a punter competition on their hands. In training camp and the preseason last year there was a competition between Moody and Greg Joseph so maybe Boyer will start a tradition with a new special teams competition every season.