One of the biggest talking points among Baltimore Ravens fans has been Tyler Loop's future with the team. There were a lot of eyes on Loop after he ended the Ravens' 2025 season by missing a 44-yard field goal. Unfortunately, Loop missed three kicks in preseason, adding to concerns about his job security.
The Ravens have been adamant about their belief in Loop, not bringing in any competition throughout camp. However, after Loop missed two kicks in the Ravens' preseason finale, head coach Jesse Minter said they'll continue to look at the kicker position. And thankfully, by releasing Blake Grupe, the Indianapolis Colts might have made their search for a kicker easier.
With Loop's struggles continuing in the preseason, this team simply have to bring in some competition, and Grupe is a strong option.
Blake Grupe is a clear Tyler Loop replacement option for the Baltimore Ravens
Grupe made all 11 of his field goals and all 10 of his extra points last season with the Colts, after being brought in midseason. Now, Grupe isn't perfect. He has converted on 81.9 percent of kicks for his career and was previously cut by the New Orleans Saints last season. Still, his final five games with the Colts showed plenty of promise.
Crucially, Grupe has shown some impressive range, converting on 19 of 27 field goals of 50 or more yards for his career. This is one of the specific issues with Loop's struggles, as he has made just one of his four kicks from 50-plus.
Minter's comments indicate that the Ravens are ready to look into other options. Even if this should've been the case before, this is a positive sign, and Grupe absolutely should be on their radar.
I'm all for patience with certain young players. But kicker is such a results-driven position, and Loop hasn't proven to be trustworthy. For a Ravens team with Super Bowl aspirations, this is a concerning flaw, and it's one they should address. Most Ravens fans seem to be aligned on this.
Other free agent options include Matt Prater. Prater is far more established than Grupe and is still productive. It's worth noting that he's 42 years old, though.
As such, Grupe could be the Ravens' best option to give Loop some competition. Ultimately, whether it's Grupe or someone else, Baltimore must add a kicker to its practice squad. They may not take Loop's job, but at the very least, the organization should look for competition and see what other options could bring.
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