Johnny Hekker did not last long on the open market. The longtime Rams punter reached an agreement with the Panthers on Friday, according to a team announcement.
The Rams cut Hekker after the sides’ 10-season run together. They nearly dropped Hekker before the season, with the All-Pro specialist’s contract at the root of the separation. It is unlikely Hekker’s Panthers deal will match his most recent L.A. pact, one the team shortened before last season. But Hekker is one of the most accomplished punters in NFL history and, at 32, should be able to keep going for a while.
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Hekker is one of just two punters, along with Shane Lechler, to have been named a first-team All-Pro four times. Hekker’s last such season came in 2017, but he landed on the All-Pro second team during the Rams’ Super Bowl LIII-qualifying season. The Oregon State product shined in that defensive struggle against the Patriots as well.
Hekker’s 44.2 yards-per-punt figure in 2021 marked a career-low average; his 45.6 number from 2020 was his previous low. The Panthers will give him a chance to get back on track.
Carolina’s primary punter from last season, ex-Jet Lac Edwards, is a free agent. In 10 Panthers games last season, Edwards averaged 47.9 yards per boot. Carolina used three punters last season; Hekker has never missed a game as a pro.
Panthers announce the signing of a free agent Punter.
Last years primary Punter averaged 47.9 yards per.
What the HEKKER?
Punters with good offenses usually have lesser average punt yards, due to offenses 1.) scoring more often, and 2.) getting the ball deeper in opposing territory, so obviously that means less punts, less opportunities for bigger boots and a smaller, more easily swayed sample size as well.
Hekker has lost a bit of his leg, as people do as they get older, but he was also, on average, punting less. Hekker’s heyday, 2013-2017, he was usually punting more than 75 times a season, outlier being 2017 when they first started being good, when he punted 65 times, compared to 98 times the year previous.
The Rams have just outplayed him. In a sense at least, a guy punting now maybe 60 times a year while you have this offense of woods, OBJ, Kupp, and now Robinson, with Stafford and a good RB committee and a semi reliable TE? A guy who averages mid 45 yard punts just isn’t as valuable to them as a team, especially at his price point, than to a team that is bad now, but is a piece or two from champions, much like the rams from 2013-2016.
He’s probably still one of the best punters in the league, but just doesn’t get the opportunity anymore, much like when they were bad.
Good to now.
Thanks!
Great take 100%
He’s probably a better quarterback than anyone on their roster too
Charlotte talk radio was just trashing Tepper all day today. This ought to calm all that down.
Ugh, OK…..
Super Bowl now!