The Los Angeles Rams put on an impressive show in their 46-9 trouncing of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2017 NFL season opener. Among the notable performances were Rams punter Johnny Hekker and defensive end Ethan Westbrooks.
Following their convincing victory, Los Angeles announced they have signed both mentioned players to an extension, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:
Rams signed Johnny Hekker to 2-year extension, tying him to LA for 6 seasons, giving him $10M gtd, highest punter guarantee ever, per source
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 11, 2017
#Rams DL Ethan Westbrooks signed a 1-year extension that includes a paycut from his $1.797M tender to $1.25M. 2018 is worth $1.75M.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 11, 2017
Hekker solidified his status as the game’s best punter after pinning the Colts inside the 20-yard line with each of his five punts. His $10 million guaranteed is the highest for any punter in league history. When one examines Hekker’s body of work –especially during the 2016 NFL season — it is easy to see why the Rams pulled the trigger on his deal.
Meanwhile, Westbrooks has served as a stabilizing factor in the team’s thinning defensive line. He has adjusted well to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme, recording 2.5 tackles and a sack in Week 1. It is also encouraging to see he was willing to take a pay cut to help him secure another year in Los Angeles. Look for Westbrooks to remain a vital part of the rotation even with the looming return of All Pro Aaron Donald.
