The Rams handed Greg Zuerlein the kicking job when they drafted him in the sixth round and now they’ve handed him a four-year contract.
Howard Balzer of the Sports Xchange reports that the Rams have reached agreement on a deal with Zuerlein. That makes five Rams draft picks under contract, half the total number of players the Rams took in April.
Zuerlein was the 171st overall pick last month and the Rams released incumbent kicker Josh Brown moments after they handed the pick in to the league. Zuerlein made a name for himself at Missouri Western State with his strong leg and caught the eye of the Rams in the process. They took advantage of Zuerlein playing close by to check out his pro day and have him in for a workout before the draft.
Zuerlein made 9-of-9 field goals from 50 yards or more in 2011 and recorded 30 touchbacks while kicking off from the 30-yard line in college. He’ll get five extra yards in the NFL, which could make for a lot of uneventful afternoons for the Rams’ kickoff coverage unit.
