AJ Cole is the only Raiders UDFA to make first team all pro (twice) with the Raiders and his 3 Pro Bowls is tied with Marcel Reece among Raiders UDFAs. Cole is part of the Raiders great 2019 UDFA class that included 8 players who played in the NFL including 3 Pro Bowlers and 4 multi-season NFL starters. The 2019 UDFA bumper crop followed a down year when Raiders were 4-12 in Jon Gruden first year back.
Cole was a tryout UDFA (not offered a contract until after a tryout at rookie camp). In college at North Carolina St. he was a 4 year starter with a strong leg but considered inconsistent. He quickly beat out incumbent punter Johnny Townsend, who the Raiders had spent a 4th round draft pick on the year before.
Cole is also a top rate holder for place kicks and was good at holding since college.
Cole was successful starting with his rookie year and became all-pro in 2021, his third year, when he averaged 50 yards per punt. His net average improved in 2022 to 43.9 yards per punt when he had only one touchback and 26 punts inside the 20 and Cole earned pro bowl honors. In 2023 Cole was first team all pro again with a 45 yard net and 50.4 avg yards per punt. In 2024 Cole had his highest average per punt at 50.8 but had 2 punts blocked as he did in 2025. This was due to the Raiders’ poor special teams blocking. In 2025 Cole signed the highest ever contract for an NFL punter.
AJ Cole is the career record holder for punt average at 48.5 yards per punt. Cole follows in a long line of outstanding Raiders punters, including Hall of Famer Ray Guy, Jeff Gossett, Shane Lechler, and Marquette King.