Veteran NFL kicker Justin Tucker has been one of the best kickers in NFL history through his ten-year career with the Baltimore Ravens, and he has now been paid as such by the Ravens organization.
The Ravens agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension for Tucker on Monday worth $24 million which will keep Tucker in Baltimore through the 2027-28 season.
Comp update: Ravens are giving Pro-Bowl kicker Justin Tucker a four-year, $24 million extension that includes $17.5 million guaranteed and an $11.5 million signing bonus, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 8, 2022
This new extension will make Tucker the highest-paid kicker in NFL history, supplanting Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell for that honor.
It is certainly a huge commitment for a kicker, but Tucker has simply been as steady as anyone to ever play the position, making 91 percent of his kicks throughout his career which is the highest percentage in NFL history.
He also broke the record for the longest field goal made in NFL history last season when he hit a game-winning 66-yard field goal as time expired in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions.
There are few who argue that Tucker is the best kicker of this generation, and many see this as a rightful contract extension for the 32-year-old kicker.
It’s appropriate for the NFL’s all-time FG accuracy leader to raise the bar for kicker pay. https://t.co/NHFVr4omgn
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) August 8, 2022
The $17 million at signing is $8 million more than any other current kicker received, and his average of $6 million annually is $1 million more than anyone else at his position.
Best in the business. https://t.co/imvhyRXARh
— Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski) August 8, 2022
Worth every penny. https://t.co/DfTJ4YB1Nv
— Greg Bailey (@GregBailey13) August 8, 2022
🐐 can eat all the crab cakes he wants https://t.co/uiHPyJVf1a
— Aaron Freeman (@falcfans) August 8, 2022
Justin Tucker is the NFL’s most accurate FG kicker ever (91.061%).
He owns the longest FG ever at 66 yards (to win a game as time expired).
He’s made 57 straight FGs in the fourth quarter/overtime.
He’s *never* missed a kick in the final minute of regulation.
A machine.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 8, 2022
It is certainly interesting that the Ravens have agreed to terms on an extension with Tucker before doing so with quarterback Lamar Jackson considering quarterback is a significantly more important position.
That being said, the importance of having a kicker that can be relied on to be near perfect like Tucker has been is extremely underrated and the Ravens have benefited greatly from having Tucker over the years.
By the time Tucker is at the end of his contract with the Ravens, he will be 38 years old.
Unless we see a similar situation to that of legendary kicker Adam Vinatieri who played into his mid-40s, this likely means that Tucker will finish out his career with the Ravens, which seems to be a relief for Ravens fans.