The Giants have acquired punter Riley Dixon in a trade with the Denver Broncos:
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants aren't waiting for the NFL Draft to continue their offseason roster upgrade. They moved to fill a significant vacancy on their special teams today when they acquired punter Riley Dixon in a trade with the Denver Broncos, who received a conditional 2019 seventh-round draft choice.
Dixon will look to replace Brad Wing, the team's punter the previous three seasons. Wing, who was released on March 10, was also acquired in a trade for a seventh-round draft choice, with Pittsburgh in 2015.
The Giants had two seventh-round selections in next year's draft after acquiring one in the trade that gave them Alec Ogletree on March 14.
The Broncos recently signed former Oakland Raiders punter Marquette King as a free agent.
Dixon, 6-4 and 221 pounds, joined the Broncos as 2016 draft choice from Syracuse who was chosen in the – what else? – seventh round. In two seasons, he had a 45.7-yard gross average and a 40.8-yard net average on 162 punts. He placed 51 balls inside the 20-yard line. Dixon's longest punt traveled 68 yards.
Dixon has also kicked off five times in his brief career.
In 2017, he booted 73 punts for the 5-11 Broncos. He had a 45.6-yard gross average and a 40.2-yard net average. On Oct. 15, Dixon punted three times against the Giants and finished with a 44.3-yard net average.
Dixon played 39 games for Syracuse University after joining the team as a walk-on. He averaged 42.9 yards on 218 punts, including 72 that he placed inside the 20. As a senior in 2015, Dixon had a 43.7-yard gross average and 41.9-yard net average, and dropped 28 of his 65 punts inside the 20-yard line. He was named one of the finalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is presented to the nation's top punter.
The Giants have one other punter on their roster, first-year pro Austin Rehkow, from the University of Idaho.
- The Giants also waived second-year wide receiver Darius Powe, who spent most of last season on the Giants' practice squad. Powe made his NFL debut when he started at wide receiver and had 2 receptions for 13 yards vs. Dallas (12/10). He suffered a foot injury and was placed on injured reserve on 12/11/17.
