Hekker signed a three-year, $7.6 million contract with the Panthers on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hekker was named the NFL's All-Decade punter for the 2010s, as he made four Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro four times. He still holds NFL single-season records for net punt coverage (46.0) and punts inside the 20 (53) from his 2016 season with the Rams. The Panthers re-signed kicker Zane Gonzalez and long snapper J.J. Jansen and have now added Hekker to the mix, so Carolina's new special teams coordinator Chris Tabor should have a solid unit heading into 2022.