They parted ways with Justin Tucker, but replacing the seven-time Pro Bowler is already proving difficult for the Baltimore Ravens, after his obvious replacement struggled mightily at minicamp.
Rookie Tyler Loop “went 2 for 4 during team period. Missed a PAT and a 42 yarder. Was good from 43 and 45,” according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Zrebiec also noted how two-time NFL MVP, quarterback Lamar Jackson and All-Pro fullback Patrick Ricard, “approached Loop to encourage him after (he) missed. Harbaugh pulled him aside as well.”
Loop’s day was made worse by his closest competition managing to impress. Undrafted free agent “John Hoyland was 4-for-4,” per Zrebiec.
The Ravens won’t worry too much about where their next kicker comes from, but they used a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft believing Loop would be the guy. His selection made history and was supposed to ease the tricky transition from Tucker, who’d been a five-time first-team All-Pro before a mediocre season in 2024 preceded off-field accusations.
Ravens Entering Uncharted Territory Replacing Justin Tucker
Depending on Tucker had been a franchise habit since 2012, but things changed after a January 30 article from The Baltimore Banner’s Julie Scharper, Brenna Smith and Justin Fenton.
Their reporting detailed allegations of “inappropriate sexual behaviour,” brought by six massage therapists. Other reports from Scharper, Smith and Fenton revealed accusations from 10 more therapists.
The Ravens eventually cut ties with Tucker in May, a decision general manager Eric DeCosta called “incredibly difficult.” It left the franchise in uncharted territory at a position the Ravens had taken for granted for years.
At least they had until last season, when Tucker missed eight field goals and shanked a pair of extra points. He’d gone from automatic to unreliable, and now the Ravens again find themselves chasing consistency.
The search is already leading to an unlikely rookie.
Unexpected Rookie Leading Ravens Kicker Battle
Using the 186th pick to select Loop wasn’t a random punt from the Ravens. Instead, the former Arizona Wildcats star “was the guy senior special teams coach and kicking guru Randy Brown wanted after an exhaustive evaluation of the draft-eligible kickers,” according to Zrebiec.
Taking Loop to lead the way was the plan, but fate may have other ideas. Those ideas involve ex-Wyoming kicker Hoyland, who signed after the draft, taking the same route to the pros as Tucker did over a decade ago.
Hoyland has seized his chance at key moments this offseason. Including when “Loop was kicking really well before he missed 4 of 9 attempts — all from 50-plus yards — with owner Steve Bisciotti looking on at the final OTA last week. Meanwhile, Hoyland, an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming, made all six of his attempts a day earlier” at OTAs, per Zrebiec.
Maintaining his momentum at minicamp has Hoyland taking control of the battle for a key spot. Football’s third phase has mostly been a strength for the Ravens since former special teams coordinator John Harbaugh became head coach in 2008, but things are changing across the unit.
The kicking game will look different, but the picture is far from settled in the return game. It’s where a healthy again speedster has Hall of Fame ambitions.
A shakeup at both ends of the kicking department isn’t the only major chance facing the Ravens. They also lost a true force from the coverage units in free agency.
Things are going to look a lot different across special teams for the Ravens this season, but most of the focus will be on who’s able to successfully replace Tucker.
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