With the results of the NFL’s investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior by kicker Justin Tucker pending, the Ravens have drafted a kicker for their future.

As the 186th overall pick, Arizona’s Tyler Loop became the first kicker drafted in Ravens history.

Wearing a Baltimore T-shirt and a huge smile, Loop described his reaction to the call as “total elation.”

“I saw the area code come across my phone,” Loop said. “I was like, ‘Let’s go. I’m going to Baltimore.’ But, yes, totally awesome. Big fan of Randy [Brown], and this whole process has been really fun, just getting to learn from him, even just in the conversations of like, ‘Hey, no guarantee that we end up together, but here’s how I’ve helped guys find success in the league, and here’s what I think you do well. Here’s where, if you’re with us, we can improve and go try and win games and make kicks and be successful in Baltimore.’”

Brown, the Ravens’ specialists coach, might have told him no guarantees, but Loop was ready anyway. He bought the Baltimore T-shirt a couple of days ago. And, once he saw Miami kicker Andres Borregales go to the New England Patriots, he knew he would end up in Baltimore.

Loop and Borregales were two of four kickers invited to the NFL combine in Indianapolis. They also participated in the specialists workout, which featured 13 kickers and was run by Brown, that week.

Loop has a big leg — he made a 62-yard field goal last season — and he was one of two kickers chosen to try to make a 60-yard field goal at Brown’s workout in Indianapolis. Both made it.

Sometimes, coaches can be drawn by kickers with big legs, former Ravens special teams coordinator and longtime specialists coach Gary Zauner said, but Brown can see past that to true talent. Former NFL kicker-turned-kicking coach John Carney agreed.

Loop was also invited to the Hula Bowl, which Zauner is on the selection committee for. Between what he saw at the Hula Bowl and what Loop did at Arizona, Zauner said he thought Loop was the best kicker in the draft.

In addition to running the specialists workout, Brown has been traveling the country evaluating kickers, according to coach John Harbaugh. Harbaugh also has a special teams background, and Zauner said that’s why the Ravens are one of a few teams with a guy like Brown who focuses solely on the specialists.

“He came back and he said, ‘Hey Eric, there’s one guy I really covet, and it’s Loop,” general manager Eric DeCosta said.

DeCosta has not seen Loop in person himself and said he’s excited to see his leg when he arrives at rookie camp this weekend.

The Ravens rely on Brown’s knowledge, and they chose Loop over Florida State’s Ryan Fitzgerald, who had last year’s best field goal percentage, and Pitt’s Ben Sauls, who has experience kicking in Acrisure Stadium, home of the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Loop went 18-for-23 (78.26%) in field goals last season and has an 83.75 career percentage. He was 98.4% in extra points. Last year, Loop was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist.

“Loop has the best potential,” Zauner said. “And what makes it better is he’s going to a team with a good kicking coach and a head coach with a special teams background who always has good specialists. ... He’s in the right spot.”

If Loop earns a starting spot, he will succeed Tucker, who holds the records for best career field goal percentage (89.1%) and longest NFL field goal (66 yards).

But this is not the first time Loop has faced competition. He beat out a good starting kicker as a freshman at Arizona, Zauner said. Loop, still giddy with the excitement of being drafted, said he doesn’t feel pressure.

“I think it’s really more exciting than pressure because it gives you something to shoot for, right?” Loop said.

Tucker, an undrafted free agent, has been the starting kicker for 13 years. He beat out Billy Cundiff as a rookie in 2012 and is the only remaining member of the 2012 Super Bowl team on the roster.

In January, The Banner published an investigation into allegations that Tucker had behaved inappropriately with massage therapists during sessions and had been banned at two spas. Ultimately, 16 women spoke to The Banner. Tucker has denied all of the allegations.

The Ravens have said they will not make a decision on Tucker’s future until the NFL investigation reveals its findings. They are letting the NFL take the lead. DeCosta said he is not part of the group that the NFL updates, but team president Sashi Brown will share information.

“Haven’t gotten anything recently,” DeCosta said. “And we’re not really under any idea where that timeline’s going to be.”

They also said before the draft that they would have been researching kickers regardless of The Banner’s investigation. Tucker was in the facility this past week working out, Harbaugh said, and he knew it was a possibility the Ravens drafted a kicker.

DeCosta said this was a situation “where we’re just trying to find the best football players” and that he has not considered how drafting Loop would affect Tucker’s roster spot.

This article has been updated.