Just last week, the Baltimore Ravens had a private workout with Ryan Fitzgerald, a placekicker from Florida State University. This has led to rampant rumors that the team will use a draft pick on a kicker for the first time in franchise history. Fitzgerald was flawless—going a perfect 13-of-13 last season. He had five kicks of 50 yards or longer, showcasing his distance and precision combined. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. already has Fitzgerald atop his big board. He is widely viewed as the top kicker to be chosen in this year’s NFL Draft.
The Ravens are a one-of-a-kind operation in the NFL. It’d be the first time they’d ever drafted a kicker, since the advent of the common draft era began in 1967. That quirky stat has caught the eye of many, while the team continues to weigh their options as they approach this year’s draft. The agency has poured so much time and money into finding the right kickers. Senior special teams coach Randy Brown is logging a ton of frequent-flyer miles around the country, trying to find talent.
Today, the highest player on that chart is the Ravens’ Justin Tucker, the Ravens’ longest tenured player and still their starting kicker. He’s not only the last player standing from the Ravens’ 2012 Super Bowl championship team, he’s the only one remaining to witness the franchise’s lone title. Tucker’s future with the team is now up in the air. Sixteen massage therapists from various spas and wellness centers across Baltimore have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct so serious that a warrant was issued for his arrest. The NFL is still investigating these incidents, which allegedly occurred from 2012 to 2016.
Tucker has denied the allegations, most recently in a statement posted to social media earlier this year. The Ravens have said they’re waiting until after the season on making any judgments on Tucker’s future in Baltimore. They just have to be patient until the investigation is over.
The ramifications of Tucker’s situation are significant. Should the Ravens choose to cut him loose, it would need to be done under a post-June 1 designation. This cut would leave the team with $4.2 million in salary cap savings for this year. Even with an established history of success, Tucker faced a tumultuous 2024 campaign, missing ten total kicks— eight field goals and two extra points.
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta has already addressed the unique situation with Tucker and how tricky it is.
“Obviously, there are a lot of layers to that whole conversation, but it’s something we would have to do no matter what,” – Coach John Harbaugh
So it’s no wonder that DeCosta has made a concerted effort toward adopting a strategic mindset to the draft process. He wants to come into the draft without established needs influencing his decision making.
“When I do that, I usually end up being disappointed,” DeCosta said. “You create a false expectation in your mind and you start to think about need. I like to go into that draft just like a wide-open highway with no cars on the road. I could drive as fast as I want straight down the road unencumbered and not worry about just driving, turn the music up and just draft and pick the best players.”
The Ravens are facing a fluid situation at kicker and it could all depend on how the investigation goes. Sashi Brown, an executive within the organization, noted that progress is being made in gathering evidence related to the case.
“So, from our standpoint, we need to allow them time,” Brown explained. “I don’t think they’re going to take as long as possible, but we certainly know that they’re working prudently and to try to get to what is a number of people who need to provide evidence before they come back to us. And they have been making progress, we know that.”
As the Ravens prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft, they are faced with a pivotal decision regarding their kicking situation. Selecting Ryan Fitzgerald would be another first in the franchise’s history. In doing so, it would address fears surrounding the future of Justin Tucker — a necessity given the current climate of investigations still unfolding. How the Ravens act during this golden period of opportunity will probably determine what shape their roster will take over the next half-decade.
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