Ravens' overlooked rookie is quietly making a strong impression at OTAs

The Baltimore Ravens have an influx of rookies arriving this offseason. With 11 draft picks getting their first taste of the NFL at OTAs and an even longer list of undrafted free agents, attention is hard to come by.

And when you play special teams, it’s even easier to get overlooked. That’s the position that sixth-round rookie Ryan Eckley is in. He’s a punter. It’s a role that, unfortunately, won’t ever get the glamor it deserves. However, he’s in the midst of a very important position battle.

Being that the Ravens drafted Eckley, it’s widely expected that he’ll be the starting punter. Still, nothing is given in the NFL. He’ll have to earn it. According to special teams coordinator Anthony Levine Sr., Eckley is doing just that. He’s made a strong first impression at OTAs.

“[Eckley’s] confidence is crazy,” Levine said. “He’s very efficient, but his confidence is out the roof. And he works hard, his work ethic is top notch…and I love his swagger.”

Confidence, efficiency, and work ethic. Talk about a dynamic trio of traits.

Baltimore Ravens under-the-radar rookie is checking all the boxes in a pivotal offseason

The Ravens find themselves back at square one with Ryan Eckley. Six months ago, their punter situation was figured out. Jordan Stout had just broken out with an excellent 2025 campaign and seemed to have officially announced himself as their heir to Sam Koch. Unfortunately, Stout followed John Harbaugh to the New York Giants, which led to Baltimore addressing the vacancy with Eckley in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

With that major change, this is a huge offseason for both Baltimore and Eckley. As the team looks to replace an All-Pro punter in Stout, Eckley is looking to claim his spot on the 53-man roster. It may not get much attention, but the punter competition could be one of the more crucial position competitions in the coming months.

Eckley is matched up against Luke Elzinga, a 2025 undrafted free agent, who spent time with at Tennessee Titans minicamp last year. It’s pretty light competition for Eckley if we’re being honest, and he will almost certainly win the job. However, part of the battle is also building confidence before the regular season lights go on. As evident through Levine’s comments, Eckley is also knocking that out of the park.

And you can even see that confidence back at Michigan State. Take a look at his reaction after this booming punt against Boston College back in 2025.

There’s no shortage of energy there.

Knowing that Eckley is already building that confidence and swagger is a huge win for the Ravens. Even though the position doesn’t get the respect it deserves, punter is probably one of the most mentally taxing positions in football. There’s not much margin for error, as one single misstep can give the opposing offense a significant advantage. Thankfully, it doesn’t sound like we’ll have to worry about Eckley crumbling under pressure.

And that confidence is translating to his punts, too. As Levine mentioned, he’s been very efficient in the early stages of his NFL career. The highlight of his offseason thus far is absolutely crushing it in the “At our best when our best is needed” drill, where he booted a perfectly placed coffin corner punt with all eyes on him. That just gives you a feel of how good he can be in clutch situations.

Hopefully, this is just the start for Eckley. There’s a long way to go, but so far, he’s passing his first NFL offseason with flying colors.

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