2017 NFL Net Punting Average Leaders

Net average subtracts return yards and 20 yards for every touchback from each punt, then divides by punts. It is the yardage a punt really gains for its team, so it is the standard measure of punting.

Higher is better. Coverage teams affect it as well as the punter. In 2017, Brett Kern (44.6) led NFL punters in net punting average, ahead of Johnny Hekker (44.3) and Marquette King (42.7). 32 punters qualify (minimum 30 punts). The median qualified punter had 40.6.

Final 2017 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.

Rk	Player	Team	Net	Punts	Avg	In 20	In 20 %	TB %	FC %	Points
1	Brett Kern	Tennessee Titans	44.6	75	49.7	28	37%	7%	12%	+15.6
2	Johnny Hekker	Los Angeles Rams	44.3	65	47.9	30	46%	6%	18%	+11.3
3	Marquette King	Las Vegas Raiders	42.7	69	47.4	28	41%	9%	22%	+22.4
4	Rigoberto Sanchez	Indianapolis Colts	42.6	85	44.8	28	33%	4%	32%	+12.6
5	Michael Palardy	Carolina Panthers	42.4	71	46.0	25	35%	6%	30%	+1.3
6	Thomas Morstead	New Orleans Saints	42.2	60	47.0	26	43%	3%	30%	−0.7
7	Justin Vogel	Green Bay Packers	41.6	71	44.4	19	27%	3%	34%	−3.4
8	Chris Jones	Dallas Cowboys	41.4	66	44.1	34	52%	8%	30%	+14.2
9	Drew Kaser	Los Angeles Chargers	41.3	74	48.1	27	36%	12%	8%	+2.8
10	Shane Lechler	Houston Texans	41.3	92	49.0	32	35%	5%	24%	−1.2
11	Bradley Pinion	San Francisco 49ers	41.2	75	43.4	31	41%	1%	31%	+7.6
12	Dustin Colquitt	Kansas City Chiefs	41.1	65	45.2	29	45%	8%	34%	+11.6
13	Kevin Huber	Cincinnati Bengals	40.8	89	46.6	32	36%	3%	26%	−12.1
14	Matt Bosher	Atlanta Falcons	40.8	53	44.9	19	36%	4%	42%	−4.8
15	Matt Haack	Miami Dolphins	40.7	83	44.5	30	36%	6%	24%	+7.8
16	Donnie Jones	Philadelphia Eagles	40.6	68	45.3	21	31%	7%	21%	+0.2
17	Britton Colquitt	Cleveland Browns	40.6	81	47.6	24	30%	3%	16%	−6.3
18	Ryan Allen	New England Patriots	40.5	58	43.4	24	41%	5%	24%	+7.8
19	Lac Edwards	New York Jets	40.5	94	46.6	33	35%	4%	24%	−10.4
20	Colton Schmidt	Buffalo Bills	40.5	79	44.7	28	35%	8%	20%	+6.3
21	Sam Koch	Baltimore Ravens	40.3	85	44.8	40	47%	4%	21%	+0.7
22	Riley Dixon	Denver Broncos	40.2	75	45.6	23	31%	4%	32%	−10.1
23	Jordan Berry	Pittsburgh Steelers	39.8	64	43.2	26	41%	3%	38%	−1.7
24	Pat O'Donnell	Chicago Bears	39.7	87	47.0	27	31%	7%	17%	+2.3
25	Andy Lee	Arizona Cardinals	39.7	88	47.3	29	33%	9%	15%	−5.7
26	Bryan Anger	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	39.5	66	44.0	24	36%	8%	32%	+8.9
27	Ryan Quigley	Minnesota Vikings	39.2	71	42.2	29	41%	0%	46%	−7.1
28	Tress Way	Washington Commanders	39.0	83	45.7	33	40%	7%	31%	−12.4
29	Brad Nortman	Jacksonville Jaguars	38.9	88	44.1	29	33%	10%	29%	−10.8
30	Jon Ryan	Seattle Seahawks	38.8	92	45.0	29	32%	7%	21%	−4.3
31	Sam Martin	Detroit Lions	37.6	41	43.4	13	32%	15%	29%	−9.4
32	Brad Wing	New York Giants	36.7	97	44.1	19	20%	9%	21%	−36.2

All 2017 NFL punter rankings

Net Punting Average in other seasons: 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2016

More 2017 NFL punter leaderboards

Other 2017 NFL rankings

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