Ravens Draft Loop as Tucker’s Future Hangs in the Balance

For the first time in their 30-year history, the Ravens selected a kicker in the NFL draft, adding to the uncertainty surrounding Justin Tucker’s future in Baltimore.

The Ravens picked Tyler Loop from Arizona in the sixth round of Saturday’s draft, just three months after Tucker was first accused of sexual misconduct. He is facing allegations of inappropriate behavior from 16 massage therapists across eight high-end spas and wellness centers, according to the Baltimore Banner.

When asked about how Loop’s addition might affect Tucker’s spot on the roster, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said, “I haven’t really thought about that at this point. I just thought Loop was a really talented player, and it made sense for us to do that for a lot of different reasons. We’ve mentioned before that we would consider kickers, so for us, it’s just like any other position. This year, we evaluated all these guys and felt he was draftable. We felt he was the best kicker, and it made sense to take him.”

Team officials previously stated they would make a decision on Tucker after the NFL completes its investigation, which is still ongoing. Tucker has publicly denied the allegations twice.

DeCosta also mentioned that he doesn’t know the investigation’s timeline. It remains unclear if Loop will compete with Tucker for the kicker role or if the plan is for Loop to take over. “Right now, they’re both on the roster,” DeCosta said. “We’re just trying to find the best football players, so we’re excited to see what he can do. He’ll be here next week, and we’ll get a chance to see his leg, which will help guide our decision moving forward.”

Confident in his potential, Loop bought a Ravens T-shirt days before the draft and wore it after being selected. When asked about the pressure of potentially competing with or replacing the NFL’s most accurate kicker, Loop responded, “I think it’s exciting more than pressure. It gives you something to aim for. We always want to improve, always striving for perfection. Learning from and competing against a guy like that gets me fired up.”

Known for his powerful leg, Loop made six of nine attempts from 50+ yards, including a 62-yard field goal last season. At the NFL combine, he hit 13 of 14 field goals (93.3%) and nailed a 60-yarder.

Two kickers Loop admires are Nick Folk and Tucker, the latter of whom he followed in college as a Texas fan. “I admire many aspects of their games,” Loop said. “But I also have my own style and approach, figuring out what works best in Baltimore to win games.”

Tucker, 35, is a seven-time Pro Bowl kicker but is coming off the worst season of his 13-year career, having missed 10 kicks last season.

The NFL’s investigation into Tucker began in February, according to a source, with the accusations involving sexual misconduct.

If the Ravens part ways with Tucker, they may need to designate him as a post-June 1 cut to spread the $7.5 million in dead money over two years and free up $4.2 million in cap space this season.

Interestingly, the Ravens are the last team in the NFL to draft a kicker.