The Las Vegas Raiders have reached an agreement with two-time All-Pro punter AJ Cole on a four-year contract extension worth $15.8 million, including $11 million guaranteed, according to multiple sources cited by ESPN on Monday. This new deal makes Cole the highest-paid punter in the NFL.
At 29 years old, Cole was in the last year of his previous four-year, $12 million contract signed in 2021, and he is now secured for the next five seasons. A three-time Pro Bowl selectee, Cole is recognized as one of the best at his position. He consistently ranked in the top five for yards per punt during four consecutive seasons and led the league in 2021 with an average of 50 yards per punt.
In 2023, Cole earned his second First-Team All-Pro honor, finishing last season with an average of 50.8 yards per punt (second-highest in the league) and placing 27 punts inside the 20-yard line. He joins other Raiders players receiving contract extensions this offseason, such as star defensive end Max Crosby, who signed a three-year, $106.5 million deal—a figure that ranks among the highest in NFL history. Additionally, quarterback Geno Smith recently secured a two-year, $75 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and left tackle Kolton Miller are expected to seek new contracts as they approach free agency in 2026. The report on Cole’s extension was initially shared by Fox Sports.
Fan Take: This contract extension highlights the growing value of specialist positions like punting in the NFL and shows how teams are investing to maintain strong, game-changing players. For fans, it underlines how competitive and strategic team building has become, impacting not just the marquee positions but every role on the roster.
