Punters are often somewhat overlooked in the construction of your team because they don’t score points on their own. They often are the team’s holder on kicks, though, and when you need a quality punt, it’s nice to have a punter worth theeir salt.
\We polled a group of writers from around SB Nation to gather consensus rankings about the available players.
We will remove players from the list as they re-sign with their current teams all the way up to the opening of free agency in March.
8. Ryan Wright, Minnesota Vikings (RFA)
Voted as high as four on one of our ballots, Wright has averaged 41.6 new yards per punt in his three years in Minnesota, but only got to 40.5 in 2024. With the Right of First Refusal costing almost $3.2 million, it’s unlikely Wright will be tendered as a Restricted Free Agent. He turns 25 this offseason.
7. JK Scott, Los Angeles Chargers
He received a first-place vote on one of our ballots, but was way down on the rest of the voting sheets. He is coming off a two-year, $4 million contract and turned 28 during the 2024 season. In his three seasons with the Chargers, he averaged 41.7 net yards per punt.
6. Riley Dixon, Denver Broncos
As high as third in our voting, Dixon averaged 42 net yards per punt in 2024, the second-highest of his career. He turns 32 this offseason, but plenty of punters can roll into their mid-30s. He is finishing up a two-year, $3.5 million contract.
5. Ryan Stonehouse, Tennessee Titans (RFA)
Stonehouse had the worst season of his career in 2024, averaging just 38.3 net yards per punt after consecutive years over 43. With the Right of First Refusal costing almost $3.2 million, it’s unlikely Stonehouse will be tendered as a Restricted Free Agent. He turns 26 this offseason.
4. Jamie Gillan, New York Giants
Coming off a two-year, $4 million deal, Gillan is one of the younger punters on our list as he turns 28 this July. He’s coming off a season where he got to just 40.5 net yards per punt but only notched two touchbacks.
3. Tress Way, Washington Commanders
A pair of second-place votes, but another ballot at eight. He was the third-highest paid punter in the NFL in 2024 at more than $3.4 million, completing a four-year extension. He’s played every game of the last 11 seasons for the Washington franchise since being signed during the 2014 offseason and turns 35 this April. His stats are as good as ever, averaging almost 43 net yards per attempt in 2024.
2. Johnny Hekker, Carolina Panthers
Received the most first-place votes in our polling, but was also seventh on another ballot, so he fell out of the top spot. His 35th birthday is in February, and he was a little of his career average in 2024 at 41.5 new yards per attempt. He finished up a three-year, $7.6 million contract.
1. Bryan Anger, Dallas Cowboys
Didn’t receive a first-place vote, but also was second or third on every ballot, so that consistency was why he tops our list. The 13-year NFL vet has made the Pro Bowl twice and was named second-team All-Pro twice in his four years with the Cowboys. He has six years with his net average over 41 yards per punt. He’s comign off a three-year, $9 million contract as the fourth-highest paid guy in the league.