As the Los Angeles Rams look to defend their title in 2022, they have a lot of work to do bringing back key players that helped win the Super Bowl this past season.
The Rams have done a nice job so far retaining their offensive line, re-signing Joseph Noteboom, Brian Allen and Coleman Shelton. They did lose Austin Corbett, however, after signing with the Carolina Panthers, and they are also losing Andrew Whitworth to retirement.
Additionally, the Rams are losing a key member of their defensive in Sebastian Joseph-Day, who is staying in L.A. and reuniting with Brandon Staley on the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Rams still have some key members to work out deals with, such as Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. To do so though, they will need as much cap space as possible and they currently do not have a lot.
With that being said, some moves have to be made to do so, and it appears they have already made one by releasing punter Johnny Hekker, via Pat McAfee:
BREAKING: According to my source(s).
4X First Team All Pro and the NFL’s 2010’s All Decade Punter, @JHekker, is set to be released from the LA Rams
He’s only 32 & excited to continue to bomb balls in a new home next year.
A freak athlete will hit the market #ForTheBrand. pic.twitter.com/NTGwcCPf0g
— 🅿️at McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 15, 2022
This is a sad day for the Rams as Hekker will always be an icon, perhaps as the best punter in franchise history.
He is coming off a bit of a down year though and despite taking a pay cut in 2021, the Rams clearly want to prioritize more important positions.
Hekker was one of three remaining members that played for the organization in St. Louis along with Aaron Donald and Rob Havenstein. Even though his time with the team is coming to an end, at least he can say he went out a champion.
Now, the Rams will be in search of a replacement at punter. It’s likely that will come later in the offseason once the dust settles on free agency.
