Just how valuable will punter Michael Dickson be for Seahawks?

Rookie punter Michael Dickson is showing fans why the Seahawks moved up to select him in the fifth round of the NFL draft earlier this spring.

O’Neil: What we learned from the Seahawks’ 3rd preseason game

Against the Minnesota Vikings Friday night, he amassed 268 yards on five punts with an average of 53.6 yards per punt. He landed two punts inside the 5-yard line, including a 56-yard coffin corner kick that quickly bounced out of bounds to pin Kirk Cousins and the Vikings’ offense at their own 3.

On Monday morning, 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard and Mike Salk talked about the impact and value a player like Dickson can have on Seattle’s 2018 season.

“I know people are going to make fun of the fact that the punter has been the best player on the field and say it’s been a bad sign for the team, but he’s been that good,” Salk said. “He’s been incredible.

“Here’s why I think (a punter like Dickson) is valuable: why are turnovers so valuable? Because of the way they rapidly change field position. Field position is a big deal. How much field position is Dickson going to be worth this year?”

Huard believes the Seahawks’ special teams will take a step forward from their 2017 season. Fellow 710 ESPN Seattle host Danny O’Neil wrote that kicker Blair Walsh cost Seattle at least one game; Huard believes Seattle’s additions (and a healthier Tyler Lockett returning kicks) can win a game.

“I think their special teams between (Dickson) and Sebastian Janikowski, and Tyler Lockett, and J.D. McKissic when he comes back from a broken foot… are going to be worth a game,” Huard said. “And who knows, maybe two games if Dickson has nights like that.

“Dickson is averaging 53.6 yards per punt. His net average is 45.6. Last year, the NFL leader averaged 49.7 and a net of 44.6. Dickson is showing why the Seahawks drafted him. Right now, what he’s done in the preseason will be better than what anybody has done – and not by a little bit. When you’re talking 3 or 4 yards difference, that is significant.”

Hawks-Vikings reaction: Rost’s takeaways | Brock & Salk’s observations