AJ Cole has developed into one of the NFL’s best punters since signing with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2019. The Raiders are rewarding his performance by making him the league’s highest-paid punter, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Cole, 29, has been a First Team All-Pro twice in the last four seasons. He logged a career-best 50.8 yards per punt in 2024 – good for the second-best mark league-wide – and has averaged at least 42.4 in net punting over the last four seasons.
Cole was entering the final year of his contract in 2025. His new four-year extension will tether him to the Raiders through the 2029 NFL season, giving him another potential chance to cash in ahead of his age-35 season in 2030.
Here’s what to know about Cole’s contract as the Raiders lock up one of their key specialists.
AJ Cole contract details
Below are the full details of Cole’s four-year contract extension with the Raiders, per Schultz:
- Term: 4 years
- Total value: $15.8 million
- Average annual value (AAV): $3.95 million
- Guaranteed money: $11 million
Before Cole inked his extension, Seattle Seahawks punter Michael Dickson was the highest-paid at his position league-wide. He was playing on a four-year deal worth just under $14.7 million with an AAV of about $3.67 million.
The most striking disparity between Cole’s deal and Dickson’s is the guaranteed money. Dickson received $7.5 million in guarantees, per OverTheCap.com. Cole is getting $11 million more over the same period, and is the first punter to ever receive an eight-figure guarantee.
NFL’s highest-paid punters
Cole’s previous deal was worth $12 million over four years. He remains one of just five current punters to be playing on a contract worth more than $10 million in total value. Below is a look at the full list.
- AJ Cole, Raiders: $15.8 million
- Michael Dickson, Seahawks: $14.7 million
- Jack Fox, Lions: $13.97 million
- Logan Cooke, Jaguars: $12 million
- Mitch Wishnowsky, 49ers: $11.2 million