Ravens: Jake Verity has made a strong case for an NFL roster spot elsewhere

Let’s get one thing straight: Jake Verity has next to no chance to make the Baltimore Ravens roster this season, and he probably knows it.

After all, it’s extremely rare for NFL teams to carry more than one kicker on their final roster. Verity currently shares a position with Justin Tucker, who stands as the most accurate kicker in NFL history.

Tucker is still only 32-years-old, which in kicker years is practically nothing. This preseason, it looks like he’s still in his prime, as he’s made both of his field-goal attempts so far. Unless Tucker somehow gets hurt, he isn’t going anywhere.

That being said, Verity has put together an outstanding recruitment pitch for other NFL teams, and no less than Tucker has taken notice.

“I’ll just say it: I’ll be shocked if he’s not on somebody’s 53-man roster to start the season,” said Tucker during a press conference on Monday.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker believes Jake Verity should be another team’s kicker

The Ravens clearly saw potential in Verity when they signed him out of East Carolina in mid-May, a month after the NFL Draft.

Verity converted on 74-of-98 (75.5 percent) field goal attempts in his college career and stands as the Pirates’ all-time leader in both field goals made and points scored (314).

In the Ravens’ two preseason games so far, Tucker and Verity have split kickoffs, field goals, and point-after attempts.

Across both games, Verity has made all three of his field-goal attempts, from distances of 42, 53, and 43 yards, respectively. Verity also attempted and successfully converted an extra point in the Ravens’ 20-3 win over the Panthers on Saturday.

There’s always an NFL team short of a kicker in August, and it wouldn’t be surprising if general manager Eric DeCosta tries to swing Verity for a draft pick or two before the regular season opens — a possibility Tucker alluded to on Monday.

“I’m excited to see what the future has in store for him. I know we all are,” said Tucker. “I would also be surprised if we don’t get a [draft] pick for him.”

This would not be without precedent in Ravens history. Robbie Gould, Graham Gano, and Will Lutz spent a brief time in the Ravens’ locker room but left before playing a regular-season game. All three found success with other NFL teams and reached a Pro Bowl in their careers.

It would not be surprising in the least if Jake Verity followed in the exact same path.