St. Louis Rams Extend Punter Johnny Hekker To Six-Year Deal

According to ESPN’s Adam Scheffer, the St. Louis Rams have extended punter Johnny Hekker to a six-year deal worth up to $18-million.

The six-year extension will keep him with the team through the 2020 season. Prior to signing the new deal, Hekker was scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of the year. Hekker earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors last year after setting an NFL single-season record for net punting average in a season (44.2). Hekker’s career net average of 41.9 yards per punt is the third best in the NFL since he arrived in 2012, and opponents are averaging just 6.7 yards per return against him, which is the second lowest in that span. This season, Hekker’s 41.4 net average ranks sixth in the NFL.

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 While Hekker’s ability as a punter is a great asset to the team, that doesn’t even begin to describe the effect that the punter has on the field. Hacker, also a former high school quarterback, has a pretty good arm as well and it is something that head coach Jeff Fisher has regularly taken advantage of.

Each of Hekker’s completions have resulted in successful fakes, one of which went for a touchdown in a 2012 win over Seattle. Hekker is two for two this season, and is number one in the NFL with a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

The Pro Bowl punter was an underrated free agent out of Oregon State University when the Rams signed him back in 2o12, and it looks like the Rams punter will be in St. Louis for the long-term.

While the Rams paid Hekker a lot of money and he was given the most guaranteed money ever to a kicker or punter, it was well-earned and well-deserved. Team’s win or lose because of their special teams and with Hekker, the Rams look to have one of the better punters in the NFL for years to come.