Ravens signal the end of the Sam Koch era with surprising draft pick

The Baltimore Ravens have been receiving universal praise for their 2022 NFL Draft class, but their fourth-round selection of punter Jordan Stout certainly raised a few eyebrows.

Stout was a standout at Penn State, although most seemed to agree that “Punt God” San Diego State punter Matt Araiza was the consensus top specialist in this class.

However, it seems the NFL disagreed as Stout was the first punter drafted. For the Ravens, this almost certainly signals the end of the Sam Koch era in Baltimore.

Kock has been the Ravens’ punter for nearly the last two decades, but drafting Stout in the fourth round indicates that his time in Baltimore has likely come to an end.

The Jordan Stout pick is the end of Sam Koch’s time with the Ravens

Stout has experience as a punter, kicker, and kickoff specialist during his time at Penn State and was named a finalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2021.

He was widely seen as one of the best punters in college football and it isn’t a surprise to see him drafted. Although it certainly is a bittersweet pick for the Ravens.

Koch has been the team’s punter since he was drafted in the sixth round out of Nebraska way back in the 2006 NFL Draft. For the last 17 years, Koch has been a staple of an always-reliable Ravens special-teams unit.

He’s a former Pro Bowler, second-team All-Pro, and the most accomplished punter in Ravens history. On top of that, he became known for his efficient fake punts completing 7-of-8 passes during his time with the franchise.

Koch is a legend, but at nearly 40-years-old, the Ravens decided it was time for a change. Releasing Koch allows the Ravens to save over $2 million in cap space which could be used to sign players after the draft.

Ravens fans will always have a soft spot for Sam Koch, but it’s highly likely that his time with the organization has come to an end. Thank you for everything.