Rams set to cut ties with four-time All-Pro who had been with team for 10 seasons, per report

After 10 seasons with Johnny Hekker as their punter, it seems that the Los Angeles Rams have decided to move on. 

According to Pat McAfee, the Rams have informed their 32-year-old punter that they will soon be releasing him. According to the Athletic, the team plans to make the move shortly after the start of the new league year, which means Hekker will likely be cut at some point on Wednesday after the new league year starts at 4 p.m. ET. By cutting him, the Rams will pick up $2.05 million in salary cap space. 

On one hand, this is a surprising move because Hekker has been one of the best punters in the NFL over the past 10 years. Since signing with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2012, Hekker has been named a first-team All-Pro four times while also being voted to the Pro Bowl four times. Hekker has also ranked in the top 10 in yards per punt in seven of his 10 seasons. 

Not to mention, the former high school quarterback has also been a special teams weapon for the Rams. In 10 seasons with Hekker, the Rams have called nearly two dozen fake punts and Hekker usually makes the gamble pay off. Over the course of his career, the punter has completed 14 of 23 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown. 

Despite his stellar career, it’s not totally surprising that the Rams are moving on. The team actually thought about dumping Hekker last season. Not only did they bring in some competition in the form of Corey Bojorquez — who was later traded to the Packers — but they also asked Hekker to take a pay cut just before the start of the 2021 season. 

Although Hekker had a career-low punting average of 44.2 yards in 2021, that doesn’t tell the whole story. His all-important net punting average was 42.6 yards, which ranked fourth in the NFL. Basically, Hekker can still punt and there’s a good chance someone will swoop in and sign him after he’s officially released. 

The good news for Hekker is that he’ll be leaving Los Angeles with a Super Bowl ring thanks to the Rams win over the Bengals in February. Speaking of Super Bowls, in his first Big Game appearance, Hekker set the Super Bowl record for longest punt when he booted a 65-yarder against the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII. 

That record stills stands. 

Hekker’s release means the Rams are now down to just two players from their St. Louis era. Aaron Donald and right tackle Rob Havenstein are the only players left on the Los Angeles roster who also played with the Rams while the team was in St. Louis. The Rams made the move from St. Louis to L.A. prior to the 2016 season.