Ravens & K Justin Tucker Optimistic Deal Can Be Reached Before Deadline

Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reports that there’s optimism from the Ravens and franchise K Justin Tucker that a deal could be in place before Friday’s deadline.

Zrebiec mentions that the two sides have had periodic conversations about a long-term deal for months now. However, there’s no indication that a deal is imminent at this point in time.

Some have mentioned that Tucker is likely targeting a contract that would make him highest-paid kicker, surpassing Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski and his four-year, $17.2 million deal.

Both the Ravens and Tucker have made it clear that they want to get a long-term deal in place, so it would not be surprising to see them get something worked out in the coming days.

Baltimore currently has over $12 million in salary cap space to work with, which is plenty of room for new agreement with Tucker.

Tucker, 26, wound up signing on with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Texas back in 2012. He played out his rookie contract before the Ravens elected to use the franchise tag on him back in February.

The franchise tag would run the Ravens close to $4.5 million fully guaranteed for the 2016 season.

In 2015, Tucker appeared in 16 games for the Ravens and converted 33 of 40 field goal attempts (82.5 percent) to go along with all 29 extra point tries. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 1 kicker out of 60 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Tucker and Ravens as the news is available.