The competition for the Buffalo Bills’ punting job may no longer be a competition after Matt Araiza showed everyone what he’s got during the team’s preseason opener against the Colts.
Taking the field for the first time in the NFL, the 2022 sixth-round pick boomed an insane 82-yard punt from his own 18-yard-line. Sure, it resulted in a touchback, but that’s still a solid 62-net-yards, which I’m sure the Bills defense won’t complain about.
This type of power is what the Bills likely expected from Araiza when they drafted him 180th overall out of San Diego State. After all, the man they call “Punt God” set the FBS record by averaging 51.2 yards per punt in 2021.
Araiza is currently competing for the job with Matt Haack, who averaged 42.9 yards per punt with the Bills last season. His longest punt of the year was 63 yards. Araiza took exactly one punt this preseason to top that mark.
