The Denver Broncos have agreed to a three-year, $7.05 million contract with former Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin, according to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
This is probably bad news for Colby Wadman, who averaged 44.4 yards per punt and 39.4 net yards per punt for Denver last season. Martin averaged 45.3 yards per punt with a net average of 41.8 yards with Detroit in 2019.
Judging solely from their average salaries ($2.35 million for Martin compared to $570,000 for Wadman), it seems safe to assume that Martin will be the heavy favorite to win the team’s punter job this offseason.
Martin (6-1, 205 pounds) was selected by the Lions in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft out of Appalachian State. He served as Detroit’s punter for six years, averaging 46 yards per punt with a net average of 41 yards.
Martin can also handle kickoffs. With the Lions, he averaged 63.4 yards per kickoff in his career. Last season, he averaged 62 yards per kickoff and had 17 touchbacks. Broncos kicker Brandon McManus averaged 64.4 yards per kickoff and had 55 touchbacks in 2019.
