Bills Eyeing Competition for Starting Punter Role in Predraft Meeting With Big Ten Star

Buffalo met with Michigan State's Ryan Eckley, who could compete with incumbent starter Mitch Wishnowsky.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:14pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a football punting motion broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, royal blue, and white, conveying the dynamic athleticism of the position.A cubist interpretation of a punter's kicking motion captures the dynamic energy and precision of the position as the Bills look to add competition.Syracuse Today

The Buffalo Bills re-signed punter Mitch Wishnowsky this offseason, but the team is looking to add competition at the position. The Bills recently held a Zoom meeting with Ryan Eckley, the 2025 Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year from Michigan State. Eckley had an outstanding 2025 season, averaging 48.5 yards per punt, which was second-best in the nation. The Bills are also reportedly interested in Syracuse punter Jack Stonehouse as they look to add a young punter to push Wishnowsky, who is 34 years old and on a one-year deal.

Why it matters

The Bills are looking to add competition at the punter position, which could lead to an open competition in training camp. Wishnowsky has been a solid punter for the Bills, but the team may want to get younger and more explosive at the position. Eckley and Stonehouse are both talented prospects who could push Wishnowsky and potentially take over the starting job.

The details

The Bills held a Zoom meeting with Ryan Eckley, the 2025 Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year from Michigan State. Eckley had an outstanding 2025 season, averaging 48.5 yards per punt, which was second-best in the nation. He dropped 20 of his 49 punts inside the 20-yard line, with only one rolling into the end zone for a touchback. The Bills have also reportedly met with Syracuse punter Jack Stonehouse during the predraft process as they look to add competition at the position.

  • The Bills re-signed Mitch Wishnowsky this offseason.
  • The Bills held a Zoom meeting with Ryan Eckley during the predraft process.
  • The Bills previously sat down with Eckley at the NFL Combine.

The players

Mitch Wishnowsky

The Bills' incumbent starting punter, who is 34 years old and on a one-year deal.

Ryan Eckley

The 2025 Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year from Michigan State, who averaged 48.5 yards per punt and dropped 20 of his 49 punts inside the 20-yard line.

Jack Stonehouse

A punter from Syracuse who the Bills have also met with during the predraft process.

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What they’re saying

“'He punts with good touch and was outstanding in burying opponents deep in their own territory last season.'”

— Lance Zierlein, NFL Analyst

What’s next

The Bills will continue to evaluate punters in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft, with the goal of adding competition for Mitch Wishnowsky's starting job.

The takeaway

The Bills are being proactive in their search for a potential long-term solution at punter, as they look to get younger and more explosive at the position. Bringing in a talented prospect like Ryan Eckley or Jack Stonehouse to compete with the veteran Wishnowsky could lead to an open and competitive training camp battle.