The 2026 NFL free agency period wasn’t too kind to the Baltimore Ravens. They added high-end talent, but it felt like every day presented a new loss. It significantly damaged the team’s depth.
One of Baltimore’s biggest losses was punter Jordan Stout, who signed a market-setting contract with the New York Giants. While special teams isn’t a huge deal, Eric DeCosta had to find a way to replace the 2025 All-Pro's production. They may have already done that.
Sixth-round rookie Ryan Eckley will be punting for the Ravens in 2026. Expectations might be shaky given it’s his first season, but he’s wasted no time proving he’s ready for the moment.
Through training camp and two preseason games, Eckley has showcased a monstrous leg—something Stout displayed on a weekly basis last year. If he keeps up this electric pace, Baltimore could have another premiere punter on their hands.
Baltimore Ravens punter Ryan Eckley is proving he’s ready for the NFL spotlight
Transitioning to the NFL is tough. Heck, Jordan Stout really didn’t become an All-Pro and worthy of his lucrative contract until his 2025 campaign, where he averaged 50.1 yards per punt and dropped punts inside the 20-yard line at a 45.3% clip. Inconsistency plagued him in the first few seasons of his career, and there was (and still is) worry that a similar story could unfold for Ryan Eckley in the early going.
Eckley is quickly easing all of those concerns, though. He’s off to a fantastic start. Sure, the first punt of his preseason debut was an absolute disaster, going for just 27 yards. However, since that moment, he’s been firing on all cylinders.
Eckley rebounded in Week 1 of the preseason with a 40-yard boot that dropped inside the 20. Then, against the Minnesota Vikings, he had six punts and averaged a stupidly good 55.3 yards per punt. Five of those six for 54-plus yards, two went for 60, and two were pinned inside the 20.
What’s crazy is that may not have been his best performance to date. Obviously, for in-game opportunities it is, but in Monday’s training camp practice, he was surgical with it.
According to The Baltimore Sun’s Josh Tolentino, Eckley recorded five straight coffin-corner punts, all of which were downed inside the 5-yard line.
There’s power. And then there’s precision. Clearly, Eckley has both traits locked and loaded into his arsenal.
Of course, Eckley needs to be more consistent. In both preseason showings, he kicked things off with a punt that left some to be desired. He needs to prove he can get out to a roaring start, rather than adjusting to his mistakes.
In Week 3 against the Washington Commanders, Ravens fans will be looking for that complete four-quarter performance from him. We’re starting to see greatness from him—it’s time for him to put it all together ahead of the regular season.
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