There are certainly question marks going into this season on different areas of the Las Vegas Raiders roster, but one area where they are set with top-quality performers is the kicking game. In particular, punter A.J. Cole has been amongst the NFL’s elite for the past few seasons, and now the Raiders have him locked down for the foreseeable future.
According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, the Raiders have agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $15.8 million, with $11 million guaranteed, to make Cole the highest-paid punter in the NFL:
Sources: The #Raiders and 2x First-Team All-Pro punter AJ Cole have agreed to a 4-year, $15.8M extension with $11M guaranteed, making him the highest-paid punter in the NFL.
Cole had one year remaining on his current deal, so he’s now under contract for the next 5 seasons at… pic.twitter.com/oo7tmmsE1Z
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 26, 2025
Cole has clearly been one of the best punters in the league over the past four seasons. He made three straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2021-to-2023 while being named a First Team All-Pro in two of those seasons. He combines a big leg with good accuracy as well, always among the league leaders in yards per punt as well as punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
Special teams is often an overlooked facet of the game, but a great punter can be crucial in games. Deep punts that constantly force the opposing offense to drive the length of the field give the defense an important advantage to start drives.
This team has some cornerstones on offense and defense, with defensive end Maxx Crosby and tight end Brock Bowers leading the way, and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty hopefully being everything the franchise believes. Locking in Cole may not make all the biggest headlines, but it undoubtedly locks in an essential piece for the Raiders for a very long time.
Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty pays Daniel Carlson large sum for jersey No. 2
A.J. Cole’s special teams partner, kicker Daniel Carlson, has also been one of the best in the league at his position over the past couple of years, but this season will see him in a different jersey number than in years past.
Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty revealed that he paid Carlson a sum large enough to buy “a nice Mercedes GLE” for the number 2 jersey that he has worn throughout his football career. Jeanty added that the number is very important to him as it’s the number that all members of his family have worn, as well as the day he was born.
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