It isn’t often that a kicker carries a team’s 7th highest cap figure but as the Ravens 2016 franchise player, the description accurately describes Justin Tucker.
The Ravens tagged the 2013 All Pro back in March and since then very little progress has been reported although Tucker remains optimistic as reported by BaltimoreRavens.com’s Ryan Mink.
“As of right now, I’m optimistic and hopeful that something will get done.
“As far as I’m concerned and everybody is still concerned, there’s still plenty of time to get something locked in. And that is absolutely the goal – to get something locked in.”
The story is a familiar one. It is nearly identical to that of Patriots’ kicker Stephen Gostkowski.
On July 15, 2015 as the 4PM deadline approached for signing franchised players to a long-term deal, Gostkowski signed a 4-year, $17,200,000 contract with the New England Patriots, including a $6,000,000 signing bonus, $10,100,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $4,300,000.
These two accomplished kickers have similar numbers, with Gostkowski holding a slight edge.
Comparative stats for both kickers since Tucker entered the NFL in 2012
Gostkowski is Tucker’s senior by 6 years but at 32 and 26 respectively, age isn’t an issue at this time for either. Good kickers have proven to be productive well into their 30’s, even early 40’s.
Besides, if Tucker signs a deal similar to Gostkowski, which for all intents and purposes should be the benchmark for the Ravens (with a slight bump for growth in cap), he’ll get a chance at no less than a third contract assuming he remains productive.
So why the hold up?
Tucker should be motivated. He has a growing young family and I’m sure $6M in the bank today would go a long way. It’s not as if he’d starve on 16 games checks of $285,750.00 under the terms of the franchise tag for kickers, but you know he’s got to be twitching to ink the deal.
On the Ravens side of the bargaining table, some believe that they may be a bit gun shy after eating a huge chunk of Billy Cundiff’s deal. But the two kickers really aren’t comparable. Tucker is as steady as Matt Stover with more length. As for Cundiff, his great 2010 season was the aberration, not all of the so-so seasons before or after. That shank in Foxborough won’t sway how Ozzie Newsome views Tucker.
Plus a new deal for Tucker will free up roughly $1.5M in cap space.
The thinking here is that Tucker’s deal will get done by Friday just like Gostkowski’s did last year – at the last minute.
Deadlines have a way of spurring action.
