The Baltimore Ravens are actively exploring contingency plans following allegations of sexual misconduct against their star kicker, Justin Tucker. The 35-year-old Tucker, who is coming off a challenging season, missed a career-worst 10 field goal attempts, resulting in a 73.3% conversion rate that placed him 31st in the NFL. As the team weighs its options, they are considering both rookies and seasoned free agents to fill the potential void left by Tucker.
Despite his recent struggles, Tucker's career statistics are unmatched. With an 89.1% success rate on field goals, he holds the best record in NFL history among kickers with at least 100 attempts. However, Tucker's future with the Ravens remains uncertain, prompting the team to do their due diligence on all available kickers.
"I'd say the kicker position would have been a priority no matter what," said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
The Ravens have a track record of discovering kicking talent without using draft picks. Since Randy Brown joined the team as a kicking consultant in 2008, Baltimore has signed three undrafted kickers—Graham Gano, Tucker himself, and Wil Lutz—who have since achieved Pro Bowl status. In fact, kicker is the only position the Ravens have never drafted in their 29-year history.
As the team evaluates potential candidates, they are closely monitoring four kickers from the NFL combine: Ryan Fitzgerald from Florida State, Tyler Loop from Arizona, Andres Borregales from Miami, and Ben Sauls from Pittsburgh. According to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., Borregales is the top-rated kicker in this draft class. Baltimore's search for a new kicker is bolstered by their confidence in senior special teams coach Randy Brown.
"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," remarked Eric DeCosta, the team's general manager.
The Ravens could opt to wait until after the draft in late April to make a decision. By doing so, any free-agent signing wouldn't affect compensatory picks for the following season. Potential free-agent options include seasoned veterans like Nick Folk, Matt Prater, and Eddy Pineiro.
The Ravens' proficiency from the snap to the hold presents an advantage for any new kicker joining the team. This capability ensures a seamless transition should they need to replace Tucker. Moreover, rookie kickers have historically made 81.8% of their field goals over the past decade, slightly below the league average of 84.4%, suggesting that experience could be crucial in this role.
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