Rams Sign Their 7th-Round Pick
The Rams signed Kent Elmore, their seventh-round draft choice, Thursday, kicking off a potentially hot summer battle for the team’s punting position, left vacant when Dale Hatcher signed with the Green Bay Packers as a Plan B free agent in the off-season.
Elmore, from Tennessee, was the second punter selected in last April’s draft but is considered by some scouts to be the top prospect coming out of college. The Buffalo Bills took Arizona’s John Nies a round earlier and plan to use him both on punts and kickoffs.
The Rams also signed punter Hank Ilesic, a free agent, last spring. Ilesic, who has yet to arrive in camp, played 13 years in the Canadian Football League before a brief stint with the San Diego Chargers last season.
Elmore, who averaged 42.2 yards on 86 punts during his collegiate career, said he can’t wait to get started. “They just don’t draft punters unless they’re serious about them,” he said.
