It’s an Aussie invasion.
The Jets went Down Under to address their punting needs, selecting Australian Lachlan Edwards in the seventh round of the NFL Draft and later signing Melbourne-born Tom Hackett as an undrafted free agent.
Edwards, who went to Sam Houston State, didn’t hesitate when asked to list his best attributes.
DataJets NFL draft history database
“Probably my hang time,” said the 6-4, 209-pound punter. “I’ve got a big spiral and I’ve got long legs, I get good hang time. I’ve been working on my directionals all offseason. They’re one of my strong points now.”
Like Edwards, Hackett has experience in Australian Rules football. But unlike his Aussie mate, Hackett is only 5-10, 198. However, he’s only the second punter to twice win the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter during his time at Utah. He finished second in the FBS with a 47.95-yard gross average in 2015, just 0.05 under the top mark.
Considered the best punter of this year’s bunch, Hackett surprisingly wasn’t drafted. But according to NFL.com’s draft profile, scouts were unable to get accurate hang time from the “rugby-style punter.”
Hackett and Edwards will compete for the starting gig, that formerly was occupied by Ryan Quigley, who signed with the Eagles after the Jets chose not to re-sign him.
“It was amazing to get the call,” said Edwards, the eighth punter ever drafted by the Jets and the first since 1987 (Mike Rice, Montana). Fellow Aussie punter Ben Graham also played for the Jets from 2005 to 2007.
“They were the main team who kept in contact with me since the NFLPA Bowl . . . I’m super happy to be with the Jets.”
Edwards, according to NFL.com, has dropped 38.9 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard line. Not bad for a guy who punted his first American football in December 2012.
“That was in Bellarine, Australia,” he recalled. “I was just down in a park with one of my buddies wasting some time and come to find out I wasn’t really wasting time, I guess.”
..... - Newsday