Matt

Araiza

Araiza was an exclusive rights free agent heading into this offseason, meaning this offer was all the Chiefs needed to do to retain him for the upcoming season. In his first season with the Chiefs, Araiza booted 62 punts, averaging 41.5 net yards per punt while landing 40.3 percent of his attempts inside opponent’s 20-yard lines. The man known as the “Punt God” didn’t quite live up to his nickname in 2024, but played well enough to earn another year with the Chiefs.

Araiza was added to the injury report yesterday but practiced in full. The Chiefs were just doing their due diligence with the practice report and Araiza is good to go for a game that hopefully won’t need his punting services very much.

The Eagles’ Jalen Carter isn’t the only player at the Super Bowl dealing with an illness, as players on both sides appear to be dealing with whatever is going around The Big Easy. Araiza, despite being listed with an illness, was a full participant on Thursday and does not appear to be at risk of missing Sunday’s game.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first on the report, as the Chiefs will presumably give Araiza a chance to win the punting job in camp this summer. A former sixth-round pick of the Bills in 2022, Araiza was released just months after being drafted for his alleged involvement in a sexual assault case that took place at his alma mater in 2021. It was later reported in May of last year that there were no findings linking Araiza to the case, clearing him of any involvement. Araiza worked out with the Jets shortly after being cleared but did not sign a contract or earn an invite from a team to training camp. Once known as the “Punt God,” Araiza boasted one of the most impressive punting resumes in college football history and should have a legitimate shot to earn an NFL job if he gets to compete in camp.

A former sixth-round pick by the Bills in last year’s draft, Araiza was promptly released by the Bills after being accused of rape in a civil lawsuit during his time at San Diego State. After the university announced no reported findings against Araiza, he’s now expected to receive some interest from teams as he looks to find his way back into the league. During his time at San Diego State, Araiza set the FBS record with an average of 51.3 yards per punt, and has the most 50-plus yard punts (39) in a season.

The criminal investigation into Araiza also resulted with no charges filed. A sixth-round pick last year, Araiza’s connection to a college lawsuit cost him a roster spot in Buffalo. Prior to getting drafted, Araiza set the FBS record with an average of 51.3 yards per punt and set the all-time record for most punts of 50-plus yards (39) in a single season.

A statement from the San Diego District Attorney said, “Prosecutors determined it is clear the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges and there is no path to a criminal conviction.” Araiza was cut by the Bills after he was accused of rape in a civil lawsuit filed in California state court in August of this year. It’s possible a team takes a shot on him now that the case against him has been resolved. He was a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

This could be a weekly theme for the Bills and Araiza, as the team and the league investigate his alleged involvement in the rape of a 17-year-old girl last October. The Bills reportedly knew about said allegations for a few weeks but with the news now public, have opted to sideline him at for the time being. Araiza suiting up on Sundays feels like a long shot at this point.

Araiza has been accused in a civil lawsuit of participating in a gang rape as a college junior at San Diego State in Oct. 2021. Stunningly, the Bills were aware of the allegations when they released Araiza’s primary competition Matt Haack earlier this week. They have since realized what a colossal mistake that was. For his part, Araiza and his representation have denied the allegations.

Araiza was held out of Buffalo’s preseason finale as the Bills look further into his situation. Because the allegations against Araiza happened in college, the NFL can’t suspend him, making any suspension Araiza gets likely to come from the team. The Bills need to decide whether to keep Araiza, suspend him, or release him ahead of Tuesday’s roster deadline.