Justin Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history. He’s hit game winners, set records, and became a Baltimore icon. But with his release, the Tyler Loop Ravens era may begin.
Tucker is 35 years old, coming off his worst season, and facing more questions than ever.
So why did the Ravens just draft a kicker? Meet Tyler Loop, the future of the Baltimore Ravens.
Who is Tyler Loop?
Loop is the first ever kicker drafted in Ravens franchise history, being selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Loop played for the Arizona Wildcats during his collegiate years. He made 83.75% of his field goal attempts (67/80), setting the school’s all-time mark for field goal percentage.
In 2024 Loop broke a program-record against Houston when he converted a 62-yard field goal, a kick that showcased his leg strength and poise.
That's a PROGRAM RECORD 62-yarder from @tyler_loop!! 🤯
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 16, 2024
📺 FS1 pic.twitter.com/bXKxlnkcKR
Ahead of the NFL Combine, Loop kicked from as far as 70 yards in training clips shared online. The videos featuring 65- and 70-yard makes quickly caught attention.
They reinforced his elite leg strength which is a major asset at the pro level. For the Ravens, it’s a sign he could handle deep kicks if called upon.
✅ 65 yards
— Kohl's Kicking Camps (@KohlsKicking) February 21, 2025
✅ 70 yards
NFL Draft Eligible Senior Tyler Loop of @ArizonaFBall hits from WAY downtown in prep for the NFL Combine. #KohlsElite pic.twitter.com/1Xn23V0Nba
Why Draft a Kicker Now?
Tucker, the veteran kicker connected on just 73% of his field goal attempts, going 22-30 during the 2024-2025 season, a career low. From 50-plus yards he made 6 of 11, after going just 1 of 5 the year before. For a kicker who once felt automatic, the decline is hard to ignore.
Off-field issues have added some uncertainty around Tucker, but the Ravens maintain Tucker getting released was strictly a football decision.
Statement from Executive Vice President and General Manager Eric DeCosta pic.twitter.com/TNQrqw3me2
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 5, 2025
What This Means for the Ravens
Though, many still regard Tucker as the greatest kicker in NFL history, the Ravens have moved on without him. He was the last player remaining from Baltimore’s 2012-2013 Super Bowl-winning team. His release marks the end of an era.
By selecting Loop, Baltimore is beginning a fresh phase in their kicking game. Loop’s strong leg and college success makes him a promising candidate to take over.
The Road Ahead
Drafting Loop shows the Ravens are thinking ahead. Justin Tucker may still be the best to ever do it in his position, but his decline was real. Baltimore knew it needed a plan for life after him. Tucker may be the past, but the Ravens just made a move that points to the future.
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