7 times the LA Rams may have been shortchanged in 2021 roster moves

Trade scenario VI

The LA Rams have watched silently as the performance of punter Johnny Hekker has diminished, and truly has done almost nothing to remedy the situation. Perhaps one of the first signs of the front office no longer harmonizing with the coaching staff occurred when the 2020 punting leader, Corey Bojorquez, fell into the LA Rams lap in the off-season.

When pressed as to whether that meant that the team had set a competition for the punter position in place, head coach Sean McVay adamantly denied that any competition would take place. That statement was made despite the huge financial benefits the team would gain by going with Bojorquez over Johnny Hekker.

Instead, the Rams held a non-competitive competition, one that seemed to be won hands-down by Corey Bojorquez’s nearly perfect preseason finale.

Rams spend more for less

But to everyone’s surprise, the team traded a 2023 seventh-round pick and punter Corey Bojorquez to the Green Bay Packers for a 2023 sixth-round pick. The compensation that the Rams got in return was next to nothing.  But the Rams announced that they were able to restructure Hekker’s salary, generating significant savings to the team.  Per Spotrac.com, Hekker is making $3.867 million this year. How much is Corey Bojorquez earning this year? Just $1.02 million.

Spending $2.9 million in excess for a punter is something we’ll refer back to later.

Okay. But surely that scare to Johnny Hekker has him among the best in the NFL, right?  Well, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but no. This year, Johnny Hekker is the 27th-ranked NFL punter, while Corey Bojorquez is the eighth-ranked punter. The difference is five yards per punt or 170 yards difference. The LA Rams traded away a Top 10 punter, kept one of the worst punters in the NFL, and are paying him three times the salary? Still not convinced?  Okay, let’s look at the next one.