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The Baltimore Ravens have reportedly made the final decision on star kicker Justin Tucker after drafting kicker Tyler Loop in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Tucker, 35, posted a career-low 73.3% field goal percentage in 2024, his 13th season with the Ravens after going undrafted out of Texas in 2012.
Beyond his multiple franchise records, Tucker is the best field goal kicker in NFL history with a league-leading 89.1% field goal percentage. He also holds the record for the longest made field goal in NFL history after a 66-yard kick in 2021.
Despite his historic career, Tucker's struggles last season led to an important decision by head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta in this year's draft.
The Ravens ultimately took Loop out of Arizona with the 186th overall pick in the sixth round, seemingly drafting Tucker's eventual replacement.
Tucker has three years remaining on a four-year, $24 million contract extension signed in 2022.
Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9)Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Harbaugh called the surprising decision of taking Loop "based on football" before revealing that the rookie would be competing for the starting role with Tucker.
"Every decision we make has to be based on football," Harbaugh said after the draft. "There's a lot of layers to that. You've got a rookie kicker and here you took him in the sixth round, early in the sixth round. He's a talented guy. Just from a football standpoint – salary cap, all the different things that you just take into consideration – whatever we decide to do over the next few weeks will be based on football."
Baltimore revealed the final word on that decision on Monday by releasing Tucker, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Tucker's exit from Baltimore will surely make waves throughout the league, as he was considered the most reliable kicker in the NFL, ever, before struggles ran rampant in 2024.
It remains to be seen if Tucker being the subject of an NFL investigation into supposed sexual misconduct was a factor in Baltimore's decision.
The Ravens will seemingly lean on Pool to step into the role as a rookie.
Loop (5-foot-11, 191 pounds) set multiple Arizona records through five seasons as a Wildcat. He holds the school mark for the longest field goal made (62 yards) and holds the career efficiency mark at (83.75%).
The multiple-time Lou Groza Award Finalist also handled Arizona's kickoff duties, at times, and could fill the void that Tucker leaves in that role.
Continue reading...
Tucker, 35, posted a career-low 73.3% field goal percentage in 2024, his 13th season with the Ravens after going undrafted out of Texas in 2012.
Beyond his multiple franchise records, Tucker is the best field goal kicker in NFL history with a league-leading 89.1% field goal percentage. He also holds the record for the longest made field goal in NFL history after a 66-yard kick in 2021.
Despite his historic career, Tucker's struggles last season led to an important decision by head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta in this year's draft.
The Ravens ultimately took Loop out of Arizona with the 186th overall pick in the sixth round, seemingly drafting Tucker's eventual replacement.
Tucker has three years remaining on a four-year, $24 million contract extension signed in 2022.
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Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9)Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Harbaugh called the surprising decision of taking Loop "based on football" before revealing that the rookie would be competing for the starting role with Tucker.
"Every decision we make has to be based on football," Harbaugh said after the draft. "There's a lot of layers to that. You've got a rookie kicker and here you took him in the sixth round, early in the sixth round. He's a talented guy. Just from a football standpoint – salary cap, all the different things that you just take into consideration – whatever we decide to do over the next few weeks will be based on football."
Baltimore revealed the final word on that decision on Monday by releasing Tucker, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Tucker's exit from Baltimore will surely make waves throughout the league, as he was considered the most reliable kicker in the NFL, ever, before struggles ran rampant in 2024.
It remains to be seen if Tucker being the subject of an NFL investigation into supposed sexual misconduct was a factor in Baltimore's decision.
The Ravens will seemingly lean on Pool to step into the role as a rookie.
Loop (5-foot-11, 191 pounds) set multiple Arizona records through five seasons as a Wildcat. He holds the school mark for the longest field goal made (62 yards) and holds the career efficiency mark at (83.75%).
The multiple-time Lou Groza Award Finalist also handled Arizona's kickoff duties, at times, and could fill the void that Tucker leaves in that role.
Continue reading...
