2016 NFL Gross Punting Average Leaders

Gross average is total punt yards divided by punts that were not blocked. It measures distance only and ignores returns and touchbacks.

Net average is a better measure of field position; use both. In 2016, Pat McAfee (49.3) led NFL punters in gross punting average, ahead of Andy Lee (49.1) and Marquette King (48.6). 34 punters qualify (minimum 30 punts). The median qualified punter had 45.6.

Final 2016 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.

Rk	Player	Team	Avg	Punts	Net	In 20	In 20 %	TB %	FC %	Points
1	Pat McAfee	Indianapolis Colts	49.3	56	42.7	19	34%	16%	31%	+3.4
2	Andy Lee	Carolina Panthers	49.1	36	40.4	18	50%	11%	19%	+1.4
3	Marquette King	Las Vegas Raiders	48.6	81	41.4	34	42%	11%	19%	+13.9
4	Sam Martin	Detroit Lions	48.5	62	44.2	23	37%	5%	23%	+7.1
5	Thomas Morstead	New Orleans Saints	48.3	57	42.4	22	39%	9%	12%	−1.7
6	Johnny Hekker	Los Angeles Rams	47.8	98	46.0	51	52%	1%	41%	+32.5
7	Shane Lechler	Houston Texans	47.5	72	40.1	30	42%	4%	18%	−11.4
8	Matt Bosher	Atlanta Falcons	46.8	44	41.6	21	48%	2%	36%	+1.6
9	Brad Nortman	Jacksonville Jaguars	46.6	77	39.5	27	35%	10%	25%	+1.4
10	Kevin Huber	Cincinnati Bengals	46.3	78	39.5	23	29%	10%	26%	−8.6
11	Drew Kaser	Los Angeles Chargers	46.3	59	39.8	18	31%	8%	17%	−5.1
12	Brad Wing	New York Giants	46.2	93	40.9	28	30%	9%	17%	+9.9
13	Bryan Anger	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	45.9	70	42.7	37	53%	7%	41%	+19.3
14	Chris Jones	Dallas Cowboys	45.9	59	40.5	25	42%	7%	29%	−6.6
15	Donnie Jones	Philadelphia Eagles	45.8	63	40.7	21	33%	10%	24%	+3.5
16	Sam Koch	Baltimore Ravens	45.8	80	39.9	37	46%	6%	18%	+2.2
17	Riley Dixon	Denver Broncos	45.7	89	41.3	28	31%	7%	28%	+6.2
18	Jordan Berry	Pittsburgh Steelers	45.6	69	40.2	25	36%	4%	25%	+0.1
19	Britton Colquitt	Cleveland Browns	45.3	83	40.3	22	27%	2%	28%	+1.7
20	Dustin Colquitt	Kansas City Chiefs	45.1	76	40.7	38	50%	12%	36%	+14.0
21	Tress Way	Washington Commanders	45.1	49	38.9	15	31%	8%	14%	−5.7
22	Ryan Allen	New England Patriots	44.7	72	41.4	23	32%	7%	26%	+15.0
23	Matt Darr	Miami Dolphins	44.3	90	39.9	32	36%	6%	29%	−1.8
24	Brett Kern	Tennessee Titans	44.2	77	38.6	32	42%	5%	35%	−0.7
25	Pat O'Donnell	Chicago Bears	44.0	68	38.4	24	35%	7%	46%	−7.9
26	Jon Ryan	Seattle Seahawks	44.0	72	39.3	26	36%	4%	31%	−6.7
27	Bradley Pinion	San Francisco 49ers	44.0	100	39.8	28	28%	4%	41%	−7.1
28	Jacob Schum	Green Bay Packers	43.2	56	39.1	19	34%	7%	32%	−9.6
29	Lac Edwards	New York Jets	43.1	76	37.3	24	32%	5%	29%	−22.2
30	Jeff Locke	Minnesota Vikings	42.6	74	39.0	34	46%	4%	38%	−3.6
31	Michael Palardy	Carolina Panthers	42.5	36	37.9	13	36%	6%	17%	+3.1
32	Colton Schmidt	Buffalo Bills	42.4	75	38.1	20	27%	4%	11%	−13.9
33	Drew Butler	Arizona Cardinals	42.2	32	35.6	10	31%	0%	25%	−10.9
34	Ryan Quigley	Arizona Cardinals	41.6	35	37.2	13	37%	6%	53%	−3.2

All 2016 NFL punter rankings

Gross Punting Average in other seasons: 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017

More 2016 NFL punter leaderboards

Other 2016 NFL rankings

Loading the interactive stats…