Photo Credit: Imagn-Images
The Baltimore Ravens made a surprising move in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Arizona kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round — the first time in the team’s 30-year history that they’ve ever drafted a kicker. This choice has raised one major question: could Loop eventually replace Justin Tucker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history?
A Clear Favorite
Ravens special teams coach Randy Brown had been scouting kickers across the country. When he met with general manager Eric DeCosta before the draft, he didn’t hesitate.
“There’s one guy that I really covet,” Brown told him.
That guy was Tyler Loop. The Ravens liked Loop so much that they passed on other strong prospects, including Florida State’s Ryan Fitzgerald and Pitt’s Ben Sauls, and picked Loop four spots after the Patriots drafted Andres Borregales.
Is Tucker’s Time Coming to an End?
The Ravens haven’t said that drafting Loop means the end of Tucker’s time in Baltimore. But this is the first real sign that the team is planning for life after him. Tucker is under investigation by the NFL after being accused of sexual misconduct by 16 massage therapists in Baltimore, as reported by The Baltimore Banner. He has denied the allegations.
DeCosta said the team is still waiting on the NFL’s decision and doesn’t know when the investigation will be resolved. It could stretch into training camp.
Tucker recently visited the team facility, and the Ravens told him there was a chance they might draft a kicker. According to head coach John Harbaugh, Tucker understood.
Why the Ravens Picked Loop
Loop’s field goal percentage dropped each year at Arizona, finishing at 78.3% last season. But what caught the Ravens’ attention was his consistency. On film, every kick looked the same, and his technique never changed.
“He’s one of those guys who’s a kicking nerd, and you like to see that,” Harbaugh said. “He’s really into every detail and technique, and he studied Justin a lot and a lot of other guys, too.”
At the NFL Combine, Loop impressed by making 13 of 14 kicks, including a 60-yarder. During his college career, he also hit a 62-yard field goal. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranked him as the top kicker in the draft.
Loop said he takes pride in being a “student of the craft,” relying on mechanics to stay sharp even on off days.
A Long Road to Baltimore
Loop met with the Ravens several times during the draft process. He first spoke with a scout at the Hula Bowl, then worked with Randy Brown during the Combine, and later had a private workout in Arizona.
He had a feeling he was headed to Baltimore once Borregales was taken. Four picks later, his phone rang.
“Oh dude, total elation getting the call,” Loop said. “I saw the area code come across my phone. I was like, ‘Let’s go. I’m going to Baltimore.'”
Replacing a Legend
Tucker holds the NFL records for best career field goal percentage (89.1%) and longest field goal (66 yards). But last season, he hit just 73.3% of his kicks — the lowest mark of his career.
Even so, replacing someone like Tucker won’t be easy. Of the last 19 kickers drafted, 14 started right away as rookies. But none of them had to follow a player with Tucker’s resume.
Loop says he’s not intimidated.
“I think It’s really exciting more than pressure,” he said. “It gives you something to shoot for, right?”
What’s Next
The Ravens will get their first in-person look at Loop during rookie minicamp this weekend. DeCosta says that seeing Loop kick in front of coaches will help the team decide how to move forward.
For now, Loop is focused on what he can control — proving he belongs in the NFL and making the most of the opportunity.
“Randy believes in you,” Harbaugh told Loop on draft night. “He showed me the tape. You’re going to have an awesome career.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
