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The Baltimore Ravens never had to worry about finding a new kicker for over a decade. Now, with free agency negotiations opening Monday, the team faces uncertainty as Justin Tucker remains under investigation for sexual misconduct allegations.
Tucker’s Future in Question
Tucker has been accused of inappropriate behavior by 16 massage therapists from various Baltimore spas, according to the Baltimore Banner. He has denied the claims, and the NFL is investigating.
At the NFL Combine, team officials said they will wait for the league’s ruling before making any decisions. However, there is no set timeline for the investigation’s conclusion. In 2021, the NFL took five months to resolve a similar case involving Deshaun Watson.
Exploring Backup Plans
While the Ravens have not confirmed if they will sign a veteran kicker in free agency, general manager Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh acknowledged that the team is evaluating draft prospects at the position.
“I’d say the kicker position would have been a priority no matter what,” Harbaugh said. “Justin is our kicker, we love him, and I always would have expected him to keep going forever. But nobody goes forever. So, we have to look at every position like we do.”
If Baltimore looks to free agency, options include Nick Folk (Titans), Matt Prater (Cardinals), and Eddy Piñeiro (Panthers). The team could also wait until after the draft to sign a kicker, avoiding an impact on compensatory draft picks for 2026.
Baltimore’s Approach to Finding Kickers
The Ravens have never used a draft pick on a kicker but have a history of discovering talent at the position. Since 2008, they have signed three undrafted kickers—Graham Gano, Tucker, and Wil Lutz—who all became Pro Bowlers.
Ravens special teams coach Randy Brown has played a key role in scouting and developing kickers. DeCosta noted that Brown will be traveling in the coming weeks to assess potential additions.
“We’re blessed to have a really good kickers coach in [senior special teams coach] Randy Brown, who does a phenomenal job evaluating punters and kickers and long snappers for us every single season,” DeCosta said. “We’ll meet with Randy throughout the process. Over the coming weeks, he’ll travel all over the country looking at these guys, and we’ll build the best board that we can.”
Tucker’s Decline in 2024
Tucker, 35, has been one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers, holding the highest career field goal percentage in league history. However, his performance last season raised concerns even before the allegations surfaced.
His field goal percentage dropped significantly, and he missed more attempts than ever before.
Former Ravens kicker Matt Stover believes the team’s elite special teams unit will help any new kicker adjust.
“The standard of the Ravens is by far the best in the league,” Stover said. “So I believe that you can be pretty darn successful. Now, would they match Tucker? Boy, I’m not going to put that on anybody.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
