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Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke eager to justify being among the highest-paid NFL punters
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- Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke eager to justify being among the highest-paid NFL punters
Logan Cooke signed his third contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on June 9 and general manager James Gladstone not only showed his faith in the eight-year veteran but made him the highest-paid punter in the NFL — for at least a day.
Cooke said the team's decision to lock him into a four-year, $16 million deal ($4 million per year, according to ESPN's Michael Dirocco, who cited a league source) was appreciated, as he hasn't yet played a game for them.
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"A big thanks to James," Cooke said on June 10 after the Jaguars ' first mandatory minicamp session at the Miller Electric Center. "I haven't done a thing for him. That's what's kind of cool is that he just got here and had enough faith in me to keep [me] around, so that means a lot."
Seattle 's Michael Dickson , who was making $3.67 million per year, signed an extension on June 10 for $16.2 million over four years. There was less than a day between the two stories breaking.
Logan Cooke wants to end career in Jacksonville
"Obviously means a lot to stay here," Cooke said of the terms with the Jaguars. "This is where I started. I'd love to finish here. That's kind of the main goal for everybody."
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He said negotiations went smoothly.
Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) punts during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ mandatory minicamp Tuesday June 10, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
"When you love a place and the place seems to love you back, it kind of goes pretty easy," he said. "I just want to play football and hunt and fish so I don't like dealing with all that stuff.
Jaguars coach Liam Coen quickly sold on specialists
Jaguars coach Liam Coen said it didn't take him long to realize that one area that didn't need housecleaning was the special teams, from coordinator Heath Farwell and his assistant Luke Thompson to the three specialists: Cooke, kicker Cam Little and long snapper Ross Matiscik .
"You start to watch a little bit more film on special teams and watch our specialists and how they operated, you start talking to people in the building, not only about Heath and Luke, but obviously about the guys [players]," Coen said. "Just the professionalism, the way that they practice, the way that they go about their business. It was critical to keep that continuity together, and so far, I've been nothing but pleased with these guys."
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Logan Cooke last player left from 2018 draft
Cooke, a seventh-round pick in the 2018 draft, remains the only player left on the team from that draft class, and he was the only one to get a second contract .
But Cooke has perhaps been the most efficient player over a span that has seen the Jaguars post only two winning seasons.
He's already appeared in the most games (112) for a punter in team history and his 47.4 per punt gross average is the best in team history.
Cooke is the all-time NFL leader in net punting average (45.3) and his gross average is sixth best in the NFL. The Mississippi State product has put nearly 42 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard line, a team record and third-best in the NFL over that span.
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He was named second-team All-Pro last year (he had a 49.4 gross average and 44.8 net average, the latter second in the NFL and made another trip to the NFL Pro Bowl games.
Cooke also holds for Little and takes snaps from Matiscik. Cooke and Matiscik have been together for five seasons, and there have been 614 snaps on punts, conversion attempts and field-goal attempts without a bad snap or hold.
Cooke has had only one blocked punt.
Jaguars special teams kept intact
Cooke also applauded the team's decision to keep Farwell and Thompson from the Doug Pederson Era.
"Heath has been here three years and he's had three Pro Bowlers every year," Cooke said. "I think it's a testament to him. Obviously our scheme puts people in good position to make plays."
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Cooke said he still feels good physically, on the verge of his 30th birthday next month.
"I can still swing it," he said. "I'm not saying I felt like I did when I was 21 but as far as consistency and feeling very comfortable on the field, that's kind of where I am right now. I'm trying to keep that consistent feel and try to keep everything as simple as possible."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars punter Logan Cooke wants to finish his career in Jacksonville
