The Baltimore Ravens have never drafted a kicker. Not once. Not in their entire franchise history.
That could all change in one week.
For nearly three decades, Baltimore hasn’t needed to dip into the draft pool for kicking talent. Matt Stover was inherited. Billy Cundiff was a stopgap. And then came Justin Tucker—the undrafted gem out of Texas who became the most accurate kicker in NFL history and the closest thing the position has to a rock star.
But now? Things feel significantly less stable.
Tucker is coming off the worst season of his career, connecting on just 73.3% of his field goal attempts. He missed 10 total kicks—including two extra points—and went just 6-for-11 on kicks of 50+ yards. Add in the NFL’s ongoing investigation into off-field allegations, and it’s easy to see why Baltimore is at least considering life after No. 9.
Justin Tucker’s time in Baltimore could be coming to an end
The team isn’t tipping its hand, but it’s not being coy either. Asked this week about potentially drafting a kicker, General Manager Eric DeCosta didn’t dismiss the idea:
“Is it worth it? I think it’s worth it. Sure, there have been some great kickers drafted,” DeCosta said. “We’ve drafted a couple punters, but it’s worth it if you have the right kicker. It just depends on the [Draft] board. It depends on the player. It depends who’s there. It depends on how your coaches see him.”
“And also, it should be said that some of the greatest kickers of all time weren’t drafted, right? So, there’s no blueprint for finding a kicker, except you have to be able to evaluate the kicker. I think [Special Teams Coach] Randy Brown does a phenomenal job of evaluating kickers… So, is it worth it? I think it probably is if the right guy is there.”
The Ravens have 11 picks in this year’s draft—more than enough ammo to justify taking a kicker on Day 3 without feeling like it’s a wasted selection. They have already hosted Florida State’s Ryan Fitzgerald for a private workout. That’s not nothing.
Fitzgerald is one of the most intriguing legs in the class. He went a perfect 13-for-13 on field goals last season, including five from beyond 50 yards. His accuracy, poise, and mechanical tweaks have turned him into a legitimate late-round target, with analysts like Mel Kiper Jr. projecting him as one of the first kickers off the board.
Drafting a kicker would be a first for Baltimore. And firsts are good. The Ravens’ first draft pick? Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden. Their first GM? One of the best GMs in NFL history, Ozzie Newsome. Their first full season with Lamar Jackson? MVP. Not bad. If this front office thinks the next great leg is out there, they’ll be ready to pull the trigger. First time for everything.