Ravens’ Rookie Kicker Under the Most Pressure Among 2024 Draft Class

Few rookies in the NFL face more pressure than Baltimore Ravens sixth-round pick Tyler Loop, a kicker out of Arizona. While it may seem unusual for a late-round specialist to be under more scrutiny than a top pick like Cam Ward, the new quarterback for the Titans, Loop’s situation is unique.

Ward steps into a rebuilding Tennessee team replacing an underperforming quarterback. Loop, on the other hand, joins a Super Bowl-contending Ravens team where he may be asked to replace Justin Tucker—arguably the greatest kicker in NFL history. Tucker, a future Hall of Famer, has set the gold standard at the position for over a decade and remains the most accurate kicker of all time, even after a down season where he missed a career-high 10 kicks. Whether Loop is competing against or succeeding Tucker, who is facing 16 allegations of misconduct, the pressure is immense.

Despite that, Loop is embracing the challenge. “I think it’s really exciting more than pressure,” he said during his introductory press conference. “Getting to follow in the footsteps of a guy like \[Tucker] and maybe learn from him, that gets me fired up.”

Loop has long admired Tucker, even before he became a star in the NFL. Growing up a Texas Longhorns fan, Loop looked up to Tucker and other elite kickers but is ready to bring his own style to Baltimore. “I’ve got my own way of kicking,” he said. “It’s about learning, taking input, and competing every day to find what works and win games.”