4 free-agent punters the Vikings could sign in 2020
By Adam Carlson
Sam Martin
Vikings fans should be a little familiar with Sam Martin from watching him punt in games against the Detroit Lions. After handling duties for the Honolulu blue for the last seven years, the experienced punter is about to hit free agency.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see punter-needy teams swarm for Martin. Not only is he a solid punter, but he handles kickoff duties and functions as the holder on field-goal attempts, making him a jack-of-all-trades type of player on special teams.
The only reason Martin is hitting free agency is that there was a decline in his performance after injuring his foot by stepping on a conch shell, which limited the distance he could get on his punts on a regular basis. This prompted the Lions to restructure his contract and have him take a pay cut while letting him hit free agency a year sooner.
If Minnesota really wants someone with a booming leg, Martin might not be their guy. But if they want someone to fill multiple roles on a consistent basis, they might look to the former Detroit punter. Either way, he will likely be a more expensive option for the Vikings than bringing back Britton Colquitt.