The Buffalo Bills are apparently doing their due diligence on punters ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Veteran Mitch Wishnowsky, who handled Bills' punting duties from Week 5 on, is an unrestricted free agent, meaning there are currently no punters under contract on Buffalo's 90-man roster., or going in a different direction under new special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers, the Bills will likely add a free-agent punter at some point in the coming weeks.
Additionally, Buffalo appears interested in potentially using a draft pick on the position come April. Combing through punter prospects at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Bills' brass officially met with Syracuse's Jack Stonehouse and Michigan State's Ryan Eckley . Kicker and punter workouts were held on February 25 in Indianapolis. A total of only seven specialists were invited. Buffalo Bills punter Mitch Wishnowsky kicks the ball to New England during first half action at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Oct. 5, 2025. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesAlthough Wishnowsky was solid, netting 41.8 yards per punt in 2025, the Bills finished in the lower half of the NFL rankings for the fifth year in a row. As a team, Buffalo ranked 20th on the league leaderboard in net punting average . After Matt Haack ranked next-to-last with a 37.7 net average in 2021, the Bills drafted the highly-touted "Punt God" Matt Araiza at No. 180 overall in 2022. Araiza, however, never made it to the regular season with the Bills releasing him that August amidst allegations stemming from his time as a student at San Diego State. While the Bills settled for three subpar seasons with Sam Martin, Araiza was legally cleared of any accused wrongdoing and subsequentlyAug 13, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza makes contact with the ball in the second quarter pre-season game against the Indianapolis Colts | Mark Konezny-Imagn ImagesYes, they're related. Stonehouse is cousins with former Tennessee Titans' All-Pro punter Ryan. In an even closer NFL connection, his father, John, punted for both USC and the New York Giants. Starting his collegiate career at Missouri, Stonehouse transferred to Syracuse where he averaged 45.8 yards per punt over a 38-game tenure. More than 38 percent of his kicks were fair caught. Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Jack Stonehouse Jr. of Syracuse punts the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. | Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesFinishing his Michigan State career as the leading punter in Big Ten Conference history, Eckley averaged 47.6 yards per boot over 38 games. The three-time All-Big Ten honoree sent 45 percent of punts at least 50 yards downfield. Eckley was the National Team punter at the Senior Bowl. In 2025, he led NCAA Division I FBS players in 50+ yard punts . Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ryan Eckley of Michigan State punts the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. | Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesRALPH VENTRE Ralph, a former college football conference administrator, brings 20+ years of media experience to Buffalo Bills ON SI. Prior to focusing on the Bills, he spent two years covering the New York Jets. Ventre initially joined the ON SI family in 2021, providing NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for NFL Draft Bible on FanNation. Ventre remains as an official voter for the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the annual legacy awards. The Fordham University graduate is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
4 Prospects Buffalo Bills Must Watch at NFL Scouting CombineThe Bills are seeking several key additions during the draft and here's four prospects who could provide an instant upgrade.
Read more »
NFL fans’ 2025 bills come under focus as FCC probes the rise of sports streaming servicesFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
Bills Show Official Interest in First-Round Safety Prospect at NFL CombineThe Buffalo Bills interviewed a potential Top 30 draft pick as they look to find a running mate for safety Cole Bishop.
Read more »
Buffalo Bills Shockingly 'In Great Spot' at WR Position, per NFL Draft ExpertAfter a terrible season from the Bills' pass catchers, one expert believes the team is in a prime position heading into the draft.
Read more »
4 Winners After Buffalo Bills Leadership's Revealing Appearance During NFL CombineThese individuals were most impacted after Brandon Beane and Joe Brady unveiled plenty during their time at the podium in Indianapolis.
Read more »
Bills 2026 NFL Combine Meeting Tracker: WRs Buffalo Spoke With Before DraftHere is the list of wide receivers the Bills have met with at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Read more »