AJ Cole's punting last season was one of the bright spots for the Las Vegas Raiders. His Pro Bowl-caliber plays gave their defense some much-needed room when the offense put them in a tight spot. However, with the Raiders' recent acquisition, Cole may not have to use his cannon leg a lot more.
After the Raiders announced Davante Adams' transfer to the team, AJ Cole tweeted out his instant reaction. He said that he may not need to punt the ball more, which is every NFL punter's dream.
oh so i’m not punting at all next year huh? lets gooooooo https://t.co/1G4cyuc9Yo
— AJ Cole (@AJCole90) March 17, 2022
Cole has been one of the NFL's best sound bites machine. During the 2021 Pro Bowl, the Raiders punter hilariously described his job during that All-Star Game. It's no surprise that he also had another funny reaction to this major move from his team.
It's not like Cole's workload is lessened for next season, though. While he might not use his leg that much anyone, he will likely need to hold more kicks for another stellar special teamer: kicker Daniel Carlson. More field goal opportunities and extra point tries are on the horizon for the Raiders punter.
Fans criticized the Raiders for seemingly staying put during a wild offseason. The Chiefs haven't done much, but both the Broncos and the Chargers had massive upgrades for their team. It turns out, though, that Las Vegas was gearing up for a blockbuster move of their own, reuniting their quarterback Derek Carr with his college teammate Adams.
The AFC West will be an absolute bloodbath next season. When these teams match up, both punters will likely be sidelined as the offenses will be rolling.