Sam Martin, Lions Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The Detroit Lions and punter Sam Martin have agreed to a four-year extension that will keep him with the team through the 2020 season, the team announced Friday. 

Lions general manager Bob Quinn provided a statement on the signing:

"

We are excited to announce contract extensions for [Martin] and Theo Riddick. Both players have earned these extensions through their hard work that dates back to 2013 when both joined the Lions. I would like to thank Sam, Theo, and their representatives for their hard work assisting us in our goal of completing these extensions prior to the start of the regular season. I’m very pleased that both players can join their teammates in fully concentrating on our opening game.

"

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported the move. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan reported Martin will make $3.4 million per season under the extension. 

Per Spotrac, Martin was about to begin the final season of his initial four-year, $2.3 million deal signed back in 2013. With this new extension, only Dustin Colquitt of the Kansas City Chiefs and Thomas Morestead of the New Orleans Saints will make more in average salary per year.

Having only played three seasons in the league after being taken in the fifth round by the Lions in 2013, Martin has already become one of the franchise's finest punters. 

He is currently the franchise leader in average yards per punt among players who have attempted more than 10 with a mark of 46.4 yards.

While it's a stat that can reflect poorly on the offense, Martin is also ranked eighth on the Lions' all-time list with 220 career punts and 10,216 total yards, per Pro-Football-Reference.

Last season, his net average of 42.0 yards per punt also ranked fourth in the league and he believes that he can only get better in 2016, via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com: "The consistency is better. I'm stronger and just have a lot more experience. Feeling as good as I ever have going into a season."

While punters have become more of an afterthought in this league, securing Martin long-term was an important move for the Lions. 

Coming off a 2015 season in which the offense was ranked 21st in the league with 5,547 total yards, Martin's leg is a crucial weapon to have when games become battles for field position. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.