Ravens want to extend Justin Tucker, but how much will he cost?

[papasmurfbell]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-how-much-will-justin-tucker-extension-cost-20140628,0,2383643.story?track=rss

 

The Ravens’ Justin Tucker has not only been one of the league’s best kickers in his first two seasons in the NFL, he’s also been one of its bigger bargains. Such is life when you originally make the team as an undrafted free agent.

Tucker, who beat out Billy Cundiff for the kicking job as a rookie, signed a three-year, $1.44 million deal with the Ravens before the 2012 season. He’s due a base salary of $570,000 in 2014, the final year of the deal, and then he could potentially be a restricted free agent next offseason.

However, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome doesn’t want things to get to that point. In a story posted yesterday on the team’s website, Newsome included Tucker in the group of players that the organization would like to sign to a contract extension before the start of the upcoming season. The other extension candidates that he mentioned – wide receiver Torrey Smith, nose tackle Haloti Ngata and cornerback Jimmy Smith – have been known targets for a while.

Tucker, though, is a new addition to that list, though the Ravens’ front office has obviously known for some time now that the kicker is going to need to be well-compensated after he’s started his career with two standout seasons.

He’s made 68 of 74 field-goal attempts and all 68 of his extra points. He’s been clutch, making all four of his field goals during the Ravens’ 2012 Super Bowl run and connecting on six career game-winning field goals. He makes them from deep – he’s 10-for-11 from 50 yards and beyond – and he’s a weapon on kickoffs. He also has entrenched himself in the Baltimore community and is extremely active in various local causes.

Now, how much will he cost?

That’s a tough question to answer, and there’s been no indication that negotiations between Tucker and the Ravens have gained a lot of traction to this point anyway.

The other successful kicking members of Tucker’s rookie class, a group that includes the Minnesota Vikings’ Blair Walsh and the St. Louis Rams’ Greg Zuerlein, remain on their rookie deals so there’s been no precedent set with those guys.

The going rate for the top free-agent kickers this offseason was around $3 million per season. The Seattle Seahawks signed former Raven Steven Hauschka to a three-year, $9.15 million deal. Nick Folk got a four-year, $12 million pact from the New York Jets. The Carolina Panthers rewarded another former Raven, Graham Gano, with a four-year, $12.4 million deal. Phil Dawson got two years for approximately $6.1 million from the San Francisco 49ers.

As for some of the previous deals for the top kickers, Sebastian Janikowski and the Oakland Raiders agreed to a five-year, $18.9 before last season. Denver’s Matt Prater is in the middle of a four-year, $13 million contract, signed in 2012, while the Chicago Bears and Robbie Gould agreed late last year to a four-year, $15 million extension.

Tucker, 24, is younger than the above-mentioned kickers, though he hasn’t had the extended success that most of them have. But it would be hard to accomplish much more as a kicker in two NFL seasons than Tucker already has.

Wherever his eventual new deal falls and whenever it gets done, it’s probably a safe bet that Tucker will join the hierarchy of the league’s highest-paid kickers. And that’s probably where he belongs, too.

 

 

[Robjr83]

He deserves the money. I'm sure oz has the Cundiff deal in the back of his head though. At least Tucker doesn't seem to be the headcase he was.

[oldno82]

Tucker has both earned it and deserves it. There just has to be a way to make it cap-friendly.

[rastaman831226]

I think Tucker is gone. He's likely to get twice anything Ozzie is going to offer on the open market.

[cravnravn]

I think Tucker is gone. He's likely to get twice anything Ozzie is going to offer on the open market.

 

Thats why you dont let him get to the open market, You have to give him the money, you cant keep bringing in rookies and think they are going bto have Tucker type years. One of these times if you do that you get Cundiffed

[papasmurfbell]

I would ink him long term right after the season. Actually can they just write up a new contract that extends past this yr.

[rastaman831226]

 

Thats why you dont let him get to the open market, You have to give him the money, you cant keep bringing in rookies and think they are going bto have Tucker type years. One of these times if you do that you get Cundiffed

It's not up to Oz. Tucker realizes his value and will go to the highest bidder, unfortunately, that won't be us.

[papasmurfbell]

If the time comes they could tag him.

[vmax]

Ozzie made Stover the highest paid kicker in the league and if he has too, then he'll do the same with Tucker. He's not getting away.

Kickers like Tucker are rare...and he's young...and...he can sing opera!

My guess is Tucker will be offered a sweet deal and he'll jump on the life changing money. All it takes is one off year or some bad key kicks and then he'd be back with the average Joe's.

[oldno82]

If the time comes they could tag him.

Yup.

[Robjr83]

3-4 MIL is a lot for a kicker... no way do I give him that money this year. Still not a very large body of work. If he has another solid year lock him up. I love Tucker.... highly intelligent, multiple charity works, confident, and a perfectionist which is huge for a kicker.

[papasmurfbell]

I would give him 3 a yr. I think he has more then proved he is goon enough.

[vmax]

I shoot for the 5 year deal. He has nothing more to prove....but he's smart, and I bet he goes for 3 years and another chance at big money.

[tsylvester]

It's not up to Oz. Tucker realizes his value and will go to the highest bidder, unfortunately, that won't be us.

 

 

He loves playing here, loves the area, has many, may ties here now. Don't write him off just yet, not every player is after the most money they can get, many take into account where the team plays- see Derrick Mason who turned down quite a bit more money from the Pats to play here because his family did not like the NE area.

[papasmurfbell]

 

 

He loves playing here, loves the area, has many, may ties here now. Don't write him off just yet, not every player is after the most money they can get, many take into account where the team plays- see Derrick Mason who turned down quite a bit more money from the Pats to play here because his family did not like the NE area.

But money talks and BS walks. The guys who play for the home team discount is very rare.

[rastaman831226]

 

 

He loves playing here, loves the area, has many, may ties here now. Don't write him off just yet, not every player is after the most money they can get, many take into account where the team plays- see Derrick Mason who turned down quite a bit more money from the Pats to play here because his family did not like the NE area.

Stop dreamin'. Tucker will go the way of Authur Jones, Kruger, Ellerbe, and Cory Redding - the way to the biggest bidder for his services. Not a crime though, Ozzie's got a thing about finding good kickers.

[oldno82]

Some of that decision making will have to be based on how effective our offense is scoring touchdowns. Usual pattern for Ravens has been that the FG kicker is vital (Stover and now Tucker).

[thundercleetz]

Ozzie ponies up for franchise players and let's the Arthur Jones, Paul Kruger, Ellerbe's go. Tucker is a franchise player.

[papasmurfbell]

Ozzie ponies up for franchise players and let's the Arthur Jones, Paul Kruger, Ellerbe's go. Tucker is a franchise player.

Jones might very well be a top 15 DE. You didn't mention Grubbs. He is an upper echelon OG.

[colincac]

After making 500k a year his first 3 years, Tucker is going to want to take advantage of his play and take a big deal now. He might give some discounts going forward, but the guy is going to want at least 1 big deal.

[RavenMad]

He has a 15 year career to make his money. He will only be a RFA after this year so can expect to earn no more than the 1st round tender. Bundle it all together and offer him a fair 5 year deal now or just wait another 2 years while he is on a cheap deal and sort it all out then.

[papasmurfbell]

After making 500k a year his first 3 years, Tucker is going to want to take advantage of his play and take a big deal now. He might give some discounts going forward, but the guy is going to want at least 1 big deal.

Being a kicker he should be able to make more than 1 big payday.

[thundercleetz]

Jones might very well be a top 15 DE. You didn't mention Grubbs. He is an upper echelon OG.

We'll see on Jones. Grubbs is probably the best player we lost, but we had to pay either him or Yanda.

[papasmurfbell]

I said the day they locked Yanda down that Grubbs was gone. I recall so many who said I was full of it.

[Tornado700]

I said the day they locked Yanda down that Grubbs was gone. I recall so many who said I was full of it.

I agree with that assessment.