Ravens Draft Michigan State Punter Ryan Eckley With No. 211 Pick
The move signals Baltimore’s continued reliance on Randy Brown’s specialist evaluations.
Overview
- Ryan Eckley, selected in the sixth round at No. 211, was the first punter taken in this draft class and is set to handle punting and holding duties for Baltimore.
- The pick fills a vacancy created when Pro Bowl punter Jordan Stout left in free agency for the Giants, after the Ravens briefly added undrafted rookie Luke Elzinga as a placeholder.
- Eckley brings elite college production, averaging 47.6 yards per punt for Michigan State with 34% of punts downed inside the 20 and 45% traveling 50 yards or more, including an FBS‑leading 48.5 average in 2025.
- General manager Eric DeCosta said he defers to senior special teams coach Randy Brown on specialist evaluations, and Brown privately worked out Eckley in Tampa during the pre‑draft process.
- Eckley held for four years in college and says holding is as important as punting because it keeps the snap‑hold‑kick operation clean, aligning with a Ravens program known for investing in and developing specialists like Sam Koch and Jordan Stout.