The Los Angeles Rams announced they signed free agent punter Riley Dixon to a one-year contract. The terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Dixon was originally selected by the Denver Broncos No. 228 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, spending two seasons there before being traded to the New York Giants. Dixon went on to play four years with the Giants and in his last season with the team, he punted 74 times for 3,283 yards. His season-high was a 63-yard punt and had a net average of 39.5 yards.
The veteran is a solid addition, having experience working with special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis. Dixon and DeCamillis were together in Denver during the 2016 season, where in his rookie season he averaged 45.7 yards per punt.
Dixon figures to come in and replace Johnny Hekker, who Los Angeles released in the offseason to free up cap space. While Dixon looks like he has the inside track on the starting job, the Rams will likely bring in competition during training camp.
Special teams was by far and away L.A.’s weakest area during the 2021 season as the unit routinely put the team in poor field position. Hekker had a solid year by most punter standards, so going from him to Dixon is certainly a downgrade.
Last offseason, the Rams stared down a difficult choice between keeping Hekker or Corey Bojorquez, who had an outstanding camp period. Los Angeles opted to go with Hekker, and Bojorquez ended up with the Green Bay Packers. Bojorquez seemed like a logical option for the Rams to revisit, but after he signed with the Cleveland Browns, the punter free agency pool was slim.
It will be interesting to see the names that come in to compete with Dixon, though as of right now it looks like Los Angeles is set at the position for next season.
