Colby Wadman Now Has Competition For The Starting Punter Job As Denver Agrees To A Contract With Sam Martin

By Jordan Long

The Denver Broncos are going to have a punt competition during preseason.  Denver agreed to a 3-year contract with punter Sam Martin.  The deal pays him $2.35 million per year.  He is the favorite to win the job over Colby Wadman.

                Wadman has been the Broncos’ punter for the past 2 seasons.   2019 was his top season in the Mile High City.  He punted 78 times for an average of 44.4 yards.  His net average was 39.4 yards.  Wadman had 29 punts downed inside the 20 yard line but that only accounted for 37.18% of his punts, while 4 punts landed in the end zone.   In his career, Wadman averages 44.5 yards per punt with a net of 40.2 yards.  51 of his punts were downed inside the 20.

                Wadman was not an effective weapon on special teams for Denver.  He struggled to flip the field on punts.  He was not able to pin the opposing offenses deep in their own territory. Those struggles allowed the rival teams better field position which equaled a short field to start drives.

                Denver knew in order to win games this upcoming season, the special teams needed to be improved.  They signed Martin so Wadman would have a battle during preseason for the spot. Martin is the veteran.

                Martin should win the starting job. He has more experience than Wadman with 7-years of NFL experience, all with the Detroit Lions. Last season Martin averaged 45.3 yards per punt with a net of 41.8 yards which is better than Wadman.  He had 31 punts downed inside the 20.  In his career, Martin totaled 175 punts landing inside the 20.

                Martin seems like the better punter.  The problem is he hasn’t played many games outside, especially in December.  When he was with the Lions, the home games were played in a dome where Martin didn’t have to worry about the weather and how it impacts the football or how his footing will be to punt the ball. 

                Martin must prove in preseason that he is the better punter.  If that happens, Martin will be on the roster.  Wadman could win his job back if Martin struggles in preseason.  Hopefully, whoever wins it will be able to flip the field during the regular season, giving the opposing offense terrible field position.