Our countdown to kickoff for the New Orleans Saints continues with Day 43! Today’s Saints player of the day is punter Matthew Hayball. Let’s get to know the rookie.
- Name (Age): Matthew Hayball (27)
- Position: Punter
- Height, weight: 6-foot-0, 189 pounds
- Relative Athletic Score: N/A
- 2024 salary cap hit: $798,333
- College: Vanderbilt
- Drafted: Undrafted in 2023 (New Orleans Saints)
- NFL experience: 1st year
The Saints continued their trend of Australian punters when they signed Hayball to the team. He joins Australian punter Lou Hedley who the team signed last year. It’s worth noting that Hayball’s contract included $35,000 in guarantees whereas Hedley was guaranteed just $10,000 last offseason.
He played three years at Flordia Atlantic before transferring to Vanderbilt. In his final year at Vanderbilt, he punted the ball 57 times for 2,713 yards. With a 47.6 average distance, he ranked in the top-ten in college football for yards per attempt.
Hayball is looking to compete with Hedley for the starting job. He has a real shot at taking that position, as Hedley struggled last season. As we mentioned, Hayball can boot the football, and this is something that Hedley struggles to do, as his 43-yard average ranked 37th in the NFL. Hedley has worked to improve but Hayball is going to push him, and he might just push past him.
