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Raiders Sign AJ Cole to Four-Year $15.8M Extension, Making Him NFL’s Highest-Paid Punter

With $11 million guaranteed, the pact secures Cole’s stay in Las Vegas through the 2029 season.

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Jan 7, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole wears a shirt that reads "Love for Damar" with the No. 3 in honor of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
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Overview

  • Punter AJ Cole rose from undrafted free agent in 2019 to this landmark extension, nearly opting for an IBM job if he hadn’t stuck with the Raiders roster.
  • The four-year deal includes a first-of-its-kind eight-figure guarantee for a punter and lifts his average annual salary to $3.95 million, eclipsing previous records.
  • A three-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time First Team All-Pro, Cole averaged a career-best 50.8 yards per punt in 2024—second-best in the NFL.
  • Cole is one of only a few remaining players from the Raiders’ Oakland era, reinforcing his longstanding bond with the franchise.
  • This extension follows recent high-profile deals for Maxx Crosby and Geno Smith, underscoring Las Vegas’s strategy of retaining key contributors.