Broncos, ex-Raiders punter Marquette King agree to 3-year deal
Apr 5, 2018, 1:00 PM | Updated: 1:09 pm
Reports Wednesday night indicated recently released Oakland Raiders punter Marquette King had the Denver Broncos “high on his list” of landing spots and would “love” an opportunity to visit the club.
Less than 24 hours later, it looks as if the feeling is mutual.
The Broncos and King agreed to terms on a three-year contract Thursday, the team announced via a release. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports the deal is worth $7 million.
King, 29, spent his first six NFL seasons with the Raiders, punting in 16 games each of the last five seasons after spending his rookie year on injured reserve.
Last season, King finished with a career-high 42.7 net yards per punt average, ranking third in the NFL. The previous year, he was named a second-team All-Pro after punting for the second-highest average (48.6 yards) while tying for the fifth-most punts (34) placed within the 20-yard line.
King’s the only player in NFL history to record at least a 40-yard net punting average in each of his first five seasons.
Oakland released King on Friday amid reports that his personality clashed with new head coach Jon Gruden’s.
The Athletic’s Vic Tafur said last week that Gruden didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a punter who “gets personal fouls.”
There were whispers of King’s personality not clicking with Gruden’s. I should have listened better. Coach didn’t want to spend a lot of money on punter who gets personal fouls. #Raiders
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 30, 2018
According to Spotrac.com, King has been fined a total of $39,500 during the past two seasons for a trio of on-field incidents, including an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Broncos in Week 4 for throwing a ball at a Denver player after a failed fake punt.
The move also saved the Raiders $2.5 million against the salary cap.
The move means Broncos punter Riley Dixon, whom the team drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 draft, will likely be without an NFL home soon.
According to Klis, Dixon is expected to “be available for trade” now.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.
