Who are the Best Punt Returners in the NFL Currently?

The official countdown to the 2024 NFL season has begun as NFL training has kicked off as team’s prepare for a run at the Lombardi Trophy. As all eyes are on the key positions and star plays such as at the quarterback position, wide receiver position, defensive end, and linebackers, one key role position is the punt returner. Like kick returns, punt returns are one of the most electrifying plays in football and one that has the potential to flip field position with one big return. One big time punt returner landing at the top of the Top 10 NFL Punt Returners 2024 Rankings list is Derius Davis of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Davis entered his rookie season looking to become an impact player for the Chargers and the former TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver did exactly that on special teams while ranking among the best returners in the NFL both on kickoffs as well as punt returns.

Over the course of 17 games, the Chargers wide receiver posted 385 total punt return yards including a season long 87 punt return for a touchdown. Joining Davis among the best punt returners in the NFL heading into the 2024 NFL schedule includes Rashid Shaheed of the New Orleans Saints, Deonte Hardy of the Baltimore Ravens, Marvin Mims Jr of the Denver Broncos, and Devin Duvernay of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Here is a look at the Top 10 NFL Punt Returners 2024 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Kalif Raymond

Team: Detroit Lions

Position: Wide Receiver

Just missing the Top 10 NFL Punt Returners 2024 Rankings list is the Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond. Raymond, who has spent the past three seasons with the Lions, has established himself as one of the most consistent punt returners in the NFL posting at least 20 returns in each of the previous four seasons while also posting at least 208 return yards per season.

The former Holy Cross Crusaders receiver enters the 2024 NFL season coming off his best punt return season of his career posting a career high 331 return yards on 29 total punt returns. The Lions returner will look to build on that success during the upcoming 2024 NFL season.

Deejay Dallas

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Position: Running Back

Another talented returner who is coming off a strong season is the Arizona Cardinals running back and returner Deejay Dallas. Dallas, who will be entering his first season with the Cardinals this season, took over full time punt return duties along with return duties for the Seattle Seahawks last season.

Over 17 games last season Dallas posted a career high 265 return yards over 25 total returns. Over the 25 returns, Dallas finished ranked third among returners with at least 10 returns while averaging 10.6 yards per return helping to set up better field position for the Seahawks.

Top 10 NFL Punt Returners 2024 Rankings

10. Britain Covey

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Position: Wide Receiver

Securing the final slot among the Top 10 NFL Punt Returners 2024 Rankings list is the Philadelphia Eagles punt returner Britain Covey. Covey is coming off a strong season returning punts ranking among the leaders in punt returns (29), punt return yards (417), and average punt return yards per return (14.4). Covey who played his college football with the Utah Utes emerged as a reliable returner for the Eagles during the 2022 NFL season before producing at an even higher-level last season. Over two seasons as a returner Covey has posted 725 punt return yards over 72 total punt returns.

9. Charlie Jones

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Position: Wide Receiver

Special teams are one of those elements of a football game that is often overlooked, however the importance is much higher with the potential to change the outcome of the game. This includes the punt return game that has the potential to not only flip the advantage of field position from the defensive to the offense but also open a chance for a touchdown.

This was the case last season for Charlie Jones of the Cincinnati Bengals who was one of eight players in the NFL to post a punt return for a touchdown over the course of 23 total returns.

To go along with the punt return touchdown, Jones posted 248 total return yards while averaging 10.8 yards per return over just 11 games played. Jones should have the opportunity to continue his duties during the upcoming 2024 NFL schedule.

8. Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Team: Carolina Panthers

Position: Wide Receiver

After bouncing around the NFL over his first two NFL seasons, the former Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette found a full-time job with the Carolina Panthers as the team’s full time punt returner.

The 24-year-old punt returner finished the season ranked sixth in the NFL in total punt return yards after finishing the season with 322 yards on 37 total punt returns.

In addition, the Panthers returner also finished the season tied for the NFL lead with 37 returns while also joining a group of seven other players to post one punt return for a touchdown during the 2023 NFL season.

7. Xavier Gipson

Team: New York Jets

Position: Wide Receiver

Making a big-time splash during his rookie season, undrafted rookie wide receiver and punt returner Xavier Gipson put together a strong return season while also adding value within the passing game.

The former Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack’s wide receiver ranked among the leaders in punt return yards (319), punt return attempts (33), and punt return touchdowns (1) while appearing in 17 games as a rookie for the New York Jets.

Gipson’s ability to read the field and react impacts his emergence as one of the league’s most explosive playmakers leading into the 2024 NFL season during his second season with the team.

6. Gunner Olszewski

Team: New York Giants

Position: Wide Receiver

One of only eight NFL players to return a punt for a touchdown last season, Gunner Olszewski of the New York Giants enters the upcoming 2024 NFL season looking to build on another strong special team’s season as one of the top returners in the NFL.

Entering his seventh NFL season, Olszewski has posted 1,170 total punt returns over 98 attempts including two career punt returns for a touchdown.

The Giants will look to the veteran returner to continue to produce at a high level after posting 273 yards last season on 23 total punt returns and one 94 punt return returned for a touchdown. 

5. Devin Duvernay

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Position: Wide Receiver

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 NFL Punt Returners 2024 Rankings is the newly acquired Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Devin Duvernay.

Duvernay who had spent the previous four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens brings both a big play potential in the passing game as well as talented return abilities that led to him earning his first First-Team All-Pro selection back during the 2021 NFL Season.

While his return game took a step back last season, the former Ravens Pro Bowler was limited to just 13 games, however still managed to post 290 punt return yards including a season long 70-yard return.

4. Marvin Mims Jr.

Team: Denver Broncos

Position: Wide Receiver

As you look around the NFL Marvin Mims Jr of the Denver Broncos is as explosive a playmaker within the return game as any while adding a weapon both in the kick return game as well as the punt return game.

Mims Jr who spent his college tenure with the Oklahoma Sooners was a big-time addition to the Broncos return game after the team added him during the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Over 19 punt returns, the Broncos punt returner averaged 16.4 yards per punt while posting 312 total yards. In addition to that success Mims Jr big play potential also led to 397 kick return yards and one 99-yard kick return for a touchdown. 

3. Deonte Harty

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Position: Wide Receiver

Making a jump from the first place Buffalo Bills to the first place Baltimore Ravens, Deonte Harty enters the upcoming season ranked among the best returners in the league and a player who has the ability to flip field position on each punt.

Harris who is a former First-Team All-Pro punt returner after his strong performance during the 2019 NFL season was brought to Baltimore to add another weapon into the wide receiver mix but more importantly to fill the void at the punt returner position.

Harty is coming off a season finishing fifth in the NFL in punt return yards (323) while averaging nearly 12.4 yards per return. Coming off one punt return touchdown last season, the Ravens will look for Harty to continue that success this season while helping the team look to repeat within a crowded AFC North division.

2. Rashid Shaheed

Team: New Orleans Saints

Position: Wide Receiver

The battle for the overall top spot among the talented group of punt returners in the NFL was strong with multiple players battling for the top spot. One of those players is Rashid Shaheed of the New Orleans Saints who was equally impressive over the course of the 2023 NFL Season while establishing himself among the best returners in the league.

Shaheed who was an undrafted rookie during the 2022 NFL Draft finished the season posting 339 return yards over the course of 25 total returns including a season long 76 punt return for a touchdown.

The strong success within the return game earned the Saints returner his first NFL Pro Bowl selection as well as his first First-Team All-Pro selection. Expectations are high for the Saints returner as the team will look for another big season during the 2024 NFL schedule.

1. Derius Davis

Team: Los Angeles Chargers

Position: Wide Receiver

Headlining the list of the top punt returners on the Top 10 NFL Punt Returners 2024 Rankings list is the Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver/returner Derius Davis. Davis is coming off an impressive season as one of the top returners in the NFL both as a punt returner as well as kick returner.

The former TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver used his speed and explosiveness to finish the season ranked second overall in total punt return yards (385) while leading all returners with at least 20 punt returns with a 16 yard per return average. To go along with that success, Davis was one of eight punt returners in the NFL to return a punt for a touchdown.

The strong performance landed the first year NFL player a Second-Team All-Pro punt returner selection. Entering the upcoming season Davis will look to build on his early success to his NFL career while continuing to use his skills to excel in the return game.

Related Links:

• Top 10 Best NFL Quarterbacks 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 NFL Running Backs 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 Offensive Guards in NFL 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 Tight Ends in NFL 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 Wide Receivers in NFL 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 Offensive Tackles in NFL 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 Defensive Ends in NFL 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 Defensive Tackles in NFL 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 Outside Linebackers in NFL 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 Best Cornerbacks in NFL 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 Best Middle Linebackers in NFL 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 Best Centers in NFL Power Rankings
• Top 10 Best Strong Safeties in NFL Power Rankings
• Top 10 Best Free Safeties in NFL Power Rankings