The Baltimore Ravens are open for business at punter, and don’t expect them to waste a valuable draft pick at the position, either, with so many actual positions where they need depth.
“Ravens signing former (Oklahoma) punter Luke Elzinga,” NFL reporter Aaron Wilson wrote on his official X account on Saturday. “Previously Titans rookie minicamp and Shrine Bowl, per a league source.
The addition of Elzinga, 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, comes after former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh stole NFL All-Pro punter Jordan Stout away from his old team via a 3-year, $23.3 million free-agent contract with the New York Giants:
Elzinga, who is a lefty, spent 3 seasons as the punter for Central Michigan before spending his final 2 college seasons at Oklahoma, where he went from a walk-on to the immediate starter at the position. He also completed 4-of-4 passes during his college career, including 3-for-3 for 66 yards in his final season with the Sooners in 2024.
Ravens Saw Exodus of Starters in Free Agency
The Ravens saw a tremendous amount of talent walk out the door in the 1st 2 days of the 2026 NFL free agency cycle, with 8 starters and 9 total players heading to other teams.
That group included 4 players who landed with the Giants.
- Tyler Linderbaum, Center, Las Vegas Raiders
- Isaiah Likely, Tight End, New York Giants
- Patrick Ricard, Fullback, New York Giants
- Ar’Darius Washington, Safety, New York Giants
- Jordan Stout, Punter, New York Giants
- Dre’Mont Jones, Edge Rusher, New England Patriots
- Charlie Kolar, Tight End, Los Angeles Chargers
- Alohi Gilman, Safety, Kansas City Chiefs
- Jake Hummel, Linebacker, Houston Texans
Jordan Stout Became One of NFL’s Best Punters
Stout, 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds, became 1 of the NFL’s best punters in Baltimore, where he was a 4th round pick (No. 130 overall) out of Penn State in the 2022 NFL draft after he was named Big Ten Punter of the Year in 2021.
Over 4 seasons culminating in his 1st NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2025, Stout seemed to just get better every year. He’s never missed a regular-season or postseason game — 73 consecutive starts — including career highs of 50.1 yards per punt and an NFL-leading 44.7 yards in net average last season.
Elzinga averaged 42.4 yards per punt over his first 3 seasons at Central Michigan — playing home games at 30,255-seat Kelly/Shorts Stadium — and was a 3-time All-MAC selection.
In 2 seasons at Oklahoma, playing at 85,000-seat Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Elzinga averaged 44.2 yards per punt. Elzinga said he’s taken inspiration from another former OU standout in longtime Washington Commanders punter and 3-time Pro Bowler Tress Way.
“He came (to Oklahoma), he’s a lefty,” Elzinga told Sports Illustrated in 2023.. “I met him back in March and we just bonded over kicking, how we’re both lefties because it’s more of a rare thing nowadays. You mainly see righties. But he’s kind of a guy that I’ve looked up to. And then Thomas Morstead.
“I just really go out there with an empty head every time and try to block out the noise,” Just go out there with an empty mind. I usually take one kind of big, deep breath right before I go, open my eyes, close my eyes and open them, then I’m ready to go.”
Ravens Add 6-foot-4, 223-Pound Special Teams Ace to Roster