Who Should I Start? Matt Gay or Tyler Loop

Tuesday, April 29, 1:08 PM

Veteran free-agent kicker Matt Gay signed a one-year deal worth over $4.25 million fully guaranteed with the Washington Commanders on Tuesday, according to his agents. It's the most fully guaranteed money for a kicker on a one-year deal in NFL history. Gay can earn up to $5 million with reachable incentives in 2025 in D.C. In a corresponding move, the Commanders are releasing kicker Zane Gonzalez. In a Commanders offense that ranked fifth in the NFL in points per game (28.5), Gay should immediately be in play as a lower-end fantasy kicking option for the 2025 season. The 31-year-old booter went 31-for-37 (83.8%) on his field-goal tries in 16 games with the Indianapolis Colts last year, but he made just three of nine attempts from 50-plus yards out. He was a perfect 33-for-33 on extra points and has made 85.5% of his 193 career field-goal attempts in six years in the NFL.

Monday, June 23, 3:31 PM

The Baltimore Ravens used a sixth-round pick to take kicker Tyler Loop out of Arizona in this year's NFL draft to replace long-time standout Justin Tucker, who was released this offseason. Loop is the favorite to succeed Tucker, but The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec thinks the Ravens could be headed for their first training camp kicking competition since Tucker beat out Billy Cundiff in 2012. John Hoyland, an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming, has been good enough to suggest that he could push Loop for the starting gig in training camp and the preseason this fall. The 23-year-old Loop impressed the coaching staff during offseason workouts after making 83.6% of his field goals in his four seasons with the Wildcats in college. Loop could be a bit inconsistent in his rookie season if he wins the job, but given the offense he's in, he could be fantasy relevant immediately.