Harrison Butker might finally claim the recognition Justin Tucker blocked for years

An important door or two has just opened for Harrison Butker.

With the news that the Baltimore Ravens have officially released longtime kicker Justin Tucker, Butker is now in a prime position to finally receive some of the recognition that has eluded him until now.

You'd think being an excellent player on a team with multiple Super Bowl titles would be enough to earn some hardware, but for Butker, the post-season accolades have been slow to arrive. From game-winning kicks to championship rings to an incredible resume of accuracy and power, Butker has been one of the NFL's best kickers for several years—with little (in the way of personal trophies) to show for it.

The Chris Jones conundrum

It might sound weird to bring up Chris Jones here, but it's important to set a quick example here.

While Jones has always been dominant, it wasn't until Aaron Donald stepped aside into retirement with the L.A. Rams after a Hall of Fame career that everyone began to talk about the Chiefs' best pass rusher in a different light. And that's vital for his chances to join Donald one day in the Hall himself.

Framing is everything. It's not just about stats or wins. Legacy is about the way a player is perceived when all is said and done. And often, that means being able to distill a player's career accomplishment with just a few simple phrases. "He only went to 2 Pro Bowls," you might say about a player who doesn't seem to deserve induction. You get the point.

While Jones shouldn't have needed any outside help, while everyone should have already viewed his production in the proper light, it wasn't until Donald stepped aside that the conversation—the framing—became what it needed to be.

Framing Harrison Butker's career

While Butker has already won three Super Bowls and charted the course for franchise greatness in Kansas City, he's also never once made the Pro Bowl.

Yeah, let's say that again—Harrison Butker has somehow never made a single Pro Bowl. He was named an alternate in 2018 if that eases things a bit (but it shouldn't).

This is an egregious oversight (as egregious as Pro Bowl snubs can be) on the part of voters because Butker has made a solid case as the league's best kicker in recent seasons. Beyond that, at the very least, he should at least be recognized in the NFL's version of an all-star game from time to time, but he's been overlooked every year.

The reason for the snubs? Justin Tucker. In a league that demands a specialist from each conference, Butker has largely played second fiddle to Tucker in the AFC since he cemented himself as the Chiefs' kicker following an injury to Cairo Santos in 2017.

Tucker is a likely HOF candidate himself with 8 All-Pro appearances and 7 Pro Bowls, so it makes sense that he would dominate the conference's considerations. But now that he's out of the way, the path has been cleared to an extent.

2025 is a blank slate for Butker

The problem for Butker is that Tucker's demise began last season, which is why he's on the outs with the Ravens. Unfortunately for the Chiefs' kicker, it was poor timing for an in-season injury to affect his stock as well. Chris Boswell of the Pittsburgh Steelers represented the conference—which is all well and good—but no one should expect that repeat performance.

Here's what should prove true: 2025 is a blank slate for Butker and his best chance to make the Pro Bowl. The Chiefs offense should be better than it has been in a few seasons, which will bring even more attention to a team that consistently plays in primetime. That's good news for Butker, who might find himself generating headlines with a game-winning attempt (or two or three) this coming season.

Even more good news, for all of his accomplishments, Butker is also still only 29 years old. The shelf life on specialists can be quite impressive, so it's possible Butker has a lot of runway left in which to start a trophy case.

Butker's already known for his blend of kicking power and accuracy, so when the inevitable conversation arises about the NFL's best players for another season, the Chiefs kicker should be on the short list of players vying for that spot.