Saints must be watching both Senior Bowl punters closely

Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

It’s no mystery that the New Orleans Saints’ special teams unit left a lot to be desired in 2025, particularly with the new unit’s early struggles. While the scheme has mostly remained consistent with what the team has run in its peak special teams days, there was a lot of personnel turnover on many of the units.

This year, turnover is anticipated for the fourth consecutive season at one of those positions: punter.

Since the departure of the franchise’s best punter, Thomas Morstead, following the 2020 season, New Orleans would bring on its fifth replacement option.

The change would be warranted. 2025 punter Kai Kroeger, an undrafted rookie out of South Carolina, ranked No. 28 in yards per punt (44.8) and No. 30 in net yards per punt (37.3) last year.

Perhaps New Orleans chalks it up to a first year of growth for the young boot, but even so, providing competition in camp would be wise.

The Saints will get a look at two punters in Mobile, Ala. during Senior Bowl week and both should be under close watch by New Orleans.

Georgia P Brett Thorson (American Team)
Michigan State P Ryan Eckley (National Team)

Each punter averaged more yards per punt and net yards per punt in 2025 than Kroeger.

Thorson (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) tallied a 45.5 yard per punt average while his net yards per punt finished at 43.5. He won the Ray Guy Award, earning the title of college football best punter in 2025.

Meanwhile, Eckley (6-foot, 199 pounds) finished with 48.5 and 40.6 respectively. The former led the FBS while he also led the Big Ten in 50-plus yard punts with 23 in 2025.

Thorson’s stats and postseason recognition (as well as build) make him the most intriguing of the pair, though Eckley is no slouch. New Orleans will get a great opportunity working with the Georgia leg, as the Saints are providing the American Team’s special teams coordinator from their coaching staff. Saints assistant special teams coach Kyler Wilber will hold the role.

New Orleans will have a front row seat to watch two of the nation’s best punters. Last year, that led to the team bringing in former Alabama punter James Burnip for training camp. It’s not hard to imagine foreseeing another Senior Bowl punter in New Orleans come April.