2026 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 2026, Matt Araiza (52.4) led NFL punters in gross punting average, ahead of Rigoberto Sanchez (52.1) and Jordan Stout (52.0). 33 punters qualify (minimum 12 punts). The median qualified punter had 47.9. This season is in progress (through Week 7), so the numbers change each week.

Data through Week 7 of the 2026 season, updated October 24, 2026.

Rk	Player	Team	Avg	Punts	Net	In 20	In 20 %	TB %	FC %	Points
1	Matt Araiza	Kansas City Chiefs	52.4	14	45.1	9	64%	14%	21%	+1.3
2	Rigoberto Sanchez	Indianapolis Colts	52.1	15	40.3	6	40%	0%	29%	−6.1
3	Jordan Stout	New York Giants	52.0	23	44.5	11	48%	4%	17%	+4.2
4	AJ Cole	Las Vegas Raiders	50.6	22	43.3	8	36%	9%	18%	−3.7
5	Corey Bojorquez	Cleveland Browns	50.3	31	44.6	10	32%	6%	16%	+5.0
6	Tory Taylor	Chicago Bears	49.7	19	43.4	7	37%	11%	16%	+12.7
7	Daniel Whelan	Green Bay Packers	49.7	25	45.0	14	56%	8%	20%	+2.9
8	Cameron Johnston	Pittsburgh Steelers	49.5	26	44.2	13	50%	8%	19%	+8.7
9	Jake Bailey	Atlanta Falcons	49.3	21	40.3	8	38%	14%	38%	−0.4
10	Tommy Townsend	Tennessee Titans	49.3	28	41.7	9	32%	18%	14%	−1.0
11	Jeremy Crawshaw	Denver Broncos	49.0	32	44.7	14	44%	6%	22%	+1.2
12	Tress Way	Washington Commanders	48.8	28	42.7	10	36%	7%	39%	−0.5
13	Tommy Doman Jr.	Buffalo Bills	48.7	12	46.0	6	50%	0%	58%	+0.3
14	Bryan Anger	Dallas Cowboys	48.5	13	42.8	9	69%	0%	46%	+0.1
15	Ethan Evans	Los Angeles Rams	48.3	19	38.1	6	32%	16%	32%	−7.9
16	Kai Kroeger	Houston Texans	48.1	23	43.4	8	35%	0%	26%	−2.7
17	J.K. Scott	Los Angeles Chargers	47.9	26	40.7	7	27%	12%	40%	−4.6
18	Jack Fox	Detroit Lions	47.8	19	43.3	8	42%	5%	32%	+1.2
19	Braden Mann	Philadelphia Eagles	47.7	33	41.8	14	42%	3%	12%	+4.6
20	Logan Cooke	Jacksonville Jaguars	47.6	19	42.1	7	37%	5%	11%	+3.0
21	Corliss Waitman	San Francisco 49ers	47.4	20	44.5	9	45%	5%	45%	+5.4
22	Mitch Wishnowsky	New England Patriots	47.1	22	41.2	10	45%	14%	36%	+1.3
23	Austin McNamara	New York Jets	47.0	27	40.4	9	33%	7%	26%	−5.1
24	Ryan Eckley	Baltimore Ravens	46.9	26	42.5	13	50%	8%	35%	−0.6
25	Sam Martin	Carolina Panthers	46.6	18	42.6	11	61%	11%	50%	+0.4
26	Ryan Wright	New Orleans Saints	46.4	25	39.8	11	44%	0%	32%	−4.9
27	Bradley Pinion	Miami Dolphins	45.5	17	39.6	6	35%	0%	29%	−2.9
28	Brett Thorson	Minnesota Vikings	45.3	13	40.2	6	46%	8%	46%	−4.1
29	Blake Gillikin	Arizona Cardinals	45.2	28	38.2	8	29%	11%	25%	−8.0
30	Ryan Rehkow	Cincinnati Bengals	44.9	16	39.8	9	56%	0%	44%	−2.3
31	Riley Dixon	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	43.7	27	38.0	5	19%	4%	44%	−10.1
32	Michael Dickson	Seattle Seahawks	43.7	25	42.4	11	44%	4%	36%	+14.2
33	Johnny Hekker	Minnesota Vikings	43.6	12	38.6	2	17%	8%	33%	−1.6

All 2026 NFL punter rankings

Gross Punting Average in other seasons: 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

More 2026 NFL punter leaderboards

Other 2026 NFL rankings

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