Not too many Punters get drafted, but Shane Lechler was in the 5th Round out of Texas A&M in 2000 by the Oakland Raiders, who would quickly see that it was an excellent choice. Lechler would play for the Raiders for 13 seasons, and in six of those years he was named a First Team All Pro, with seven seasons being deemed Pro Bowl-worthy. Oakland was often struggling during Lechler’s tenure in the Bay Area, so they saw Lechler punt more than they would have wanted, but they knew that he did his job exceptionally well. Five times in Oakland, he would lead the National Football League in Yards per punt, and he was second another five times. Lechler signed with the Houston Texans and played there for five seasons before retiring.
At the time of his retirement, Lechler went to more Pro Bowls than any other Punter and holds the record for most Yards per Punt.
With Shane Lechler as potentially the top Punter ever, you can ask Ray Guy what that means in getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as he had to wait until he was a Senior Candidate. This is a player who gets in early or might have to wait two decades.
Comments powered by CComment