The Best NFL Punters

The National Football League is loaded with talent all across the football field while every team in the league is loaded with players who can make a big play.

Each of these players come together to make a team great while fielding all aspects of the game of football including on offense, defense, and special teams.

While special teams are often overlooked the unit is as important as any while they have the ability to change field position with one kick or seal a victory with a big play.

As punters are often overlooked, each of the punters landing on the Top 10 NFL Punters 2023 Rankings list has the ability to place a kick inside the five-yard line on any punt while helping to set up the defense.

One NFL punter that stands out among the group is the Tennessee Titans punter Ryan Stonehouse who put together a tremendous rookie season in 2022.

The former Colorado State Buffaloes punter led all NFL punters while averaging 53.1 yards per punt while also posting 4,779 punt yards. Joining Stonehouse among the best punters in the league is the veteran Johnny Hekker of the Carolina Panthers who led all punters with 39 punts inside of the 20-yard line.

Other top NFL punters include Tress Way of the Washington Commanders, Cameron Johnston of the Houston Texans, and JK Scott of the Los Angeles Chargers. Here is a look at the Top 10 NFL Punters 2023 Rankings list.

Honorable Mention

Michael Turk

Team: Miami Dolphins

2022 Stats: Rookie

Landing just outside of the Top 10 NFL Punters 2023 Rankings is the Miami Dolphins rookie punter Michael Turk. Turk, who went undrafted during the 2023 NFL Draft is entering the NFL after a successful college career with the Arizona State Sun Devils and Oklahoma Sooners.

Turk, who was ranked among the best punters in college football for the 2022 NCAA Football season finished last season averaging 46.8 yards per punt to go along with 22 punts inside of the 20-yard line and 22 punts of at least 50 yards. 

Turk along with fellow rookie Bryce Baringer both enter the 2023 NFL season with high expectations and the talent to rank among the best punters in the NFL.

Mitch Wishnowsky

Team: San Francisco 49ers

2022 Stats: 61 Punts, 43.9 AVG, 74 Long, 32 IN20

As you look around the NFL at all the great teams who have had a ton of success each of them have strong special team units. One of those teams is the San Francisco 49ers who have one of the most rounded team in the NFL including their special teams unit.

A unit that includes punter Mitch Wishnowsky who put together his fourth strong season since arriving with the 49ers in 2019. The 49ers veteran punter finished the season posting 32 punts inside of the 20-yard line while holding opposing punt returners to just nine yards per return.

Top 10 NFL Punters

10. Bryce Baringer

Team: New England Patriots

2022 Stats: ROOKIE

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 NFL Punters 2023 Rankings list for the upcoming season is the New England Patriots rookie punter and sixth round NFL Draft pick Bryce Baringer.

Baringer is coming off a stellar college career including earning Consensus All-American honors as the top college punter. The former Michigan State Spartans punter posted 50 punts during last season for 2,450 yards while averaging a career high 49 yards per punt.

In addition, Baringer posted 24 total punts of 50 plus yards as well as 22 punts inside of the 20-yard line. Baringer enters the 2023 NFL season with the talent to rank among the best punters in the NFL.

9. AJ Cole

Team: Las Vegas Raiders

2022 Stats: 59 Punts, 48.9 AVG, 67 Long, 26 IN20

When it comes to a punter with a bigfoot AJ Cole of the Las Vegas Raiders ranked among the best in the NFL after finishing 4th in the NFL with a 48.9 average last season.

Cole who was selected for his second Pro Bowl team during the 2022 NFL season was also selected as a First-Team All-Pro during the 2021 NFL Season. Over 59 punts during the 2022 NFL season Cole posted 2,884 total punt yards to go along with 26 punts inside of the 20-yard line and 16 fair catches. 

8. Tommy Townsend

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

2022 Stats: 53 Punts, 50.4 AVG, 76 Long, 22 IN20

While all eyes were on the rest of the top tier talent of the Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs at the premier positions, one player who played a key role was punter Tommy Townsend.

Townsend, who enters the 2023 NFL season at just 26 years old has put together a strong first three seasons on a team that has not required a ton of punting over that stretch.

Nonetheless when called upon Townsend delivered last season including posting 22 punts inside the 20-yard line while posting a career high 45.6 net average yards per punt during the 2022 NFL season.

7. Pressley Harvin III

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

2022 Stats: 69 Punts, 44.5 AVG, 69 Long, 20 IN20

Since joining the Pittsburgh Steeler during the 2021 NFL Draft, the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets punter has been as consistent as any punter in the NFL.

After averaging 42.6 yards per punt as a rookie Harvin III increased his average to 44.5 yards per punt last season while also averaging 41.1 net average yards per punt.

While those numbers were impressive, his ability to limit opposing returners from making a big play ranked among the best punters while finishing 2nd in the NFL allowing just 5.7 yards per return. The Steelers punter finished the season with 3,072 punt yards and 22 fair catches across his 69 total punts.

6. Ryan Wright

Team: Minnesota Vikings

2022 Stats: 73 Punts, 47.4 AVG, 73 Long, 32 IN20

Another rookie punter landing among the best punters from the 2022 NFL season with high expectations entering the 2023 NFL season is the Minnesota Vikings first year star Ryan Wright.

Wright, who played his college football for the Tulane Green Wave finished off his rookie season ranked among the best punters in the league in most punting statistics.

This includes finishing the season tied for 4th while posting 32 total punts inside of the 20-yard line while also holding opponents to just 7.7 yards per return over 73 total punts.

5. JK Scott

Team: Los Angeles Chargers

2022 Stats: 73 Punts, 43.6 AVG, 60 Long, 28 IN20

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 NFL Punters 2023 Rankings is the new Los Angeles Chargers punter JK Scott. Scott, who joined the team after spending just one game in the NFL during the 2021 NFL season put together strong numbers while keeping the Chargers ranked among the best special teams units in the NFL.

Scott, who will be entering his sixth season in the NFL, averaged 43.6 yards per punt last season over 73 total punts. In addition to the average 43.6 yards per punt to go along with 28 total punts pinned inside the 20-yard line.

4. Cameron Johnston

Team: Houston Texans

2022 Stats: 88 Punts, 48.1 AVG, 67 Long, 37 IN20

While there wasn’t many bright spots for the Houston Texans during the 2022 NFL season, one of those spots was Cameron Johnston who ranked among the best punters in the league.

The former Ohio State Buckeyes punter who led the NFL in punting yards during the 2021 NFL season continued to have success during the 2022 NFL season.

Over 88 punts during last season Johnston was as good as any punter in the league pinning opponents within 20 finishing tied with 37 total punts inside the 20-yard line over 88 punts.

The Texans punter also averaged 42.6 net average punt yards per punt to go along with holding opponents to just 8.9 yards per return.

3. Tress Way

Team: Washington Commanders

2022 Stats: 83 Punts, 46.8 AVG, 68 Long, 37 IN20

Entering the 2023 NFL schedule Tress Way of the Washington Commanders will look to build on his career season during the 2022 NFL schedule.

The former Oklahoma Sooners punter was as good as nearly every punter in the NFL while helping to flip field position with each punt off of his foot.

Way finished the season with 37 punts inside of the 20-yard line while ranking tied for 4th in the NFL holding opposing punt returners to just 6.4 yards per punt.

In addition, Way also finished 7th in the NFL while averaging 43 net yards per punt over his 83 total punts during the NFL season.

2. Johnny Hekker

Team: Carolina Panthers

2022 Stats: 81 Punts, 48.5 AVG, 68 Long, 39 IN20

One of the most popular punters in the NFL over the past five NFL seasons is Johnny Hekker who was formerly with the Los Angeles Rams before joining the Carolina Panthers for the 2022 NFL season.

Over his NFL career Hekker has earned four First-Team All-Pro selections, four Pro Bowl Selections and was named to the NFL 2010’s All-Decade team.

Hekker continued that success in 2022 posting a league high 39 punts inside of the 20-yard line while also holding opponents to just 8.6 yards per return over 81 punts during the 2022 NFL season.

1. Ryan Stonehouse

Team: Tennessee Titans

2022 Stats: 90 Punts, 53.1 AVG, 74 Long, 30 IN20

In at number one on the Top 10 NFL Punters 2023 Rankings is the Tennessee Titans second year punter Ryan Stonehouse.

Stonehouse who entered his rookie season after being named an All-American during the 2021 NCAA Football season outshined all expectations including being named as a Second-Team All-Pro selection.

Stonehouse finished his rookie season ranked tied for 7th with 30 punts inside of the 20-yard line while also leading all NFL punters while averaging 53.1 yards per punt and finishing 4th while averaging 44 net yards per punt.

How would you rank these NFL Punters going into the 2023-2024 NFL season? Rank below to be added in the Power NFL Punter Rankings.

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