(Hindsight Poll) Where would you draft Johnny Hekker?

[Mojo Ram]

Having Nostradamus knowledge of how good Hekker is, let's say you're a GM on draft day and let's also assume that all of the other GM's also know how good he is.
Which round, how high would you pick him?

Weird poll, but i'm bored. Please play along

 

[CGI_Ram]

4th.

You could make a case he could go higher. Guy has a huge impact on field position.

 

[PhillyRam]

4th... He is better than any 4th rounder they have picked in recent memory. While they have picked better or more impactful every down players in the 3rd round like Kupp & Johnson.

 

[12intheBox]

Great question.

For reference - here is who we took the year Hek was eligible:

PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
14 Michael Brockers DT LSU
33 Brian Quick WR Appalachian State
39 Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama
50 Isaiah Pead RB Cincinnati
65 Trumaine Johnson CB Montana
96 Chris Givens WR Wake Forest
150 Rokevious Watkins G South Carolina
171 Greg Zuerlein K Missouri Western State
209 Aaron Brown LB Hawaii
252 Daryl Richardson RB Abilene Christian

I’d say first pick in round 2 would have had us as the laughing stock of the league and yet would have been a good choice.

I believe this was Les Sneeds first ever draft, btw - right?

 

[bubbaramfan]

I had a chance to talk with Hekker at TC last year. He was very gracious about answering my questions about some of his punting techniques. One thing he does that others punters stay away from, is dropping the ball with a forward or backward spin before it hits his foot, creating direction. A backward spin makes the ball bounce back after it hits the ground, he's got it mastered and why Hekker gets so many punts pinned inside the 10.

He was also making 60-70 yd punts that day of TC (on the fly, no wind).

What a weapon to have. Remember that Jets game? Pinned inside Rams own 10, Hekker punting from his own end zone, then kicks and pins the Jets inside their own 10? 80+ yd punt.
That's flipping field position at the highest level.

Hekker's a great guy, and will always talk to fans at TC. Nice that he took the time to explain some of his techniques and laugh at my stupid jokes. I'll be seeking him out for some more punting talk again this coming TC.

 

[Memento]

Easily worth a fourth, possibly higher along with Zuerlein.

We're so lucky we have both of them.

 

[Akrasian]

5th. As good as he is, he only punts about 5 times a game (actually, slightly less on average. When the Rams were at their worst, 6).

The difference most seasons between him and really bad punters is less than 5 yards a punt, and again often less. So compared to a bad punter the Rams probably average less than 25 yards per game - compared to decent but not great punters well under 20 yards per game.

I'm glad the Rams have him, but he is still a punter.

Now, if you include his value as a QB, that's different

 

[Dodgersrf]

I chose a 3rd, but there is an argument there that he could even be worth a 1st.

In a game of field position, Hekker is incredible at pinning other teams back into their own territory or even creating more separation for our defence when we are pinned in ours.

Hekker is a rare talent. Hes a dominate player at his position.

 

[jap]

Johnny: "Of course I should be a #1 overall pick!!! Don't you all realize I am Slingin' Sammy Baugh's illegitimate grandchild?"

 

[coconut]

Never draft a punter. Hekker proves it. Well unless the punter is Ray Guy.

 

[Angry Ram]

Never draft a punter. Hekker proves it. Well unless the punter is Ray Guy.

Or if the punter is Johnny Hekker.

 

[Farr Be It]

I went 2nd round. It is hindsight, after all.

 

[LesBaker]

If everyone knew how good he was going to be he'd go in the 3rd.

 

[Liberator]

Rams took Brockers that year. So I'd have taken him in the second if I knew he was going to be as good as he was. He almost won us a Superbowl lol.

 

[A.J. Hicks]

Hekker was the one player I could hang my hat on as a fantastic player during the Fisher days.

Worst team in the league hey but we have the best punter.

 

[LouisvilleRam]

4th round but if he punted like he has against the Vikings the last 2 years he would be a UDFA.

 

[TheTackle]

Great question.

For reference - here is who we took the year Hek was eligible:

PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
14 Michael Brockers DT LSU
33 Brian Quick WR Appalachian State
39 Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama
50 Isaiah Pead RB Cincinnati
65 Trumaine Johnson CB Montana
96 Chris Givens WR Wake Forest
150 Rokevious Watkins G South Carolina
171 Greg Zuerlein K Missouri Western State
209 Aaron Brown LB Hawaii
252 Daryl Richardson RB Abilene Christian

I’d say first pick in round 2 would have had us as the laughing stock of the league and yet would have been a good choice.

I believe this was Les Sneeds first ever draft, btw - right?

On that basis, at 33,

That trade down was painful!

 

[Merlin]

One overall. He's the Hekk. Well ok fourth round. But his impact on wins/losses is profound, particularly before we found an NFL offense.

On that list of my favorite players of all time in horns. So yeah.

 

[Dieter the Brock]

1st overall

 

[Corbin]

Still believe Hekker is the greatest punter of all time and it's not even close. Dude has broken his own records for punting. Tells me all I need to know.

The Nostalgic crowd loves Ray Guy and I have no doubt he wasn't great, but he's no Hekker.