Both of the Ravens’ restricted free agents are now reportedly under contract for the 2015 season as kicker Justin Tucker and safety Will Hill each signed their tenders on Thursday.
Baltimore announced that fourth-year kicker Justin Tucker signed his restricted second-round tender worth $2.356 million for the 2015 season. Other teams had the right to negotiate and sign the 2013 Pro Bowl kicker to an offer sheet, but the Ravens would have had the right to match the deal and would have received the team’s second-round pick if they had elected to pass.
The high price that Tucker would command in addition to the compensation always made it highly unlikely that another team would seriously pursue him. The attention will now shift to Tucker’s future beyond this season as the Ravens have made it clear that they’d like to sign the former rookie free agent to a long-term contract, but he will aim to become one of the highest-paid kickers in the NFL.
Tucker is currently the most accurate kicker in league history after making 97 of 108 career field goal attempts in his first three seasons.
The Ravens did not announce Hill’s signing, but the safety inked his low tender of $1.542 million, according to a report from The Sun. Considering there was no draft pick attached to Hill’s tender, his restricted free agency was worth monitoring, but his history of drug-related suspensions and off-field concerns likely scared away other teams from making a long-term financial commitment.
After serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy last season, Hill quickly emerged as a starting safety for the Ravens, collecting 42 tackles, an interceptions, and four pass breakups in 10 games (eight starts). He returned an interception for a touchdown in a Monday night win over the New Orleans Saints.
Originally an undrafted free agent from the University of Florida, Hill played the first two years of his NFL career with the New York Giants.
Friday is the final day that restricted free agents can be signed to offer sheets by other teams.
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
8
Paid Advertisement
Podcast Audio Vault
88Paid Advertisement
Share the Post:
8Paid Advertisement
Right Now in Baltimore
La Canfora taking calls again at WNST and joining Baltimore Positive will make far more than just a Nasty impact
Honesty. A pairing people yell about prompting real intrigue. Listeners feel our original local schtick. Delight and yearn, Baltimore! The new La Canfora and Aparicio tandem will fix those seasonal allergies of fake media, hiding owners, lying pro sports executives and general press conference doldrums.
The "comfort" of baseball season and a new system of balls and strikes
We love our partners and sponsors at Baltimore Positive and we love it more when they love local sports as much as we do. Zach Dermer of Farnen and Dermer and The Comfort Guys joins Nestor to discuss an up-and-down first week of Orioles season and why you need to get spring maintenance so your summer doesn't get as a hot and bothered as a manager trying to argue with the machine of the new ABS umpiring system. You'll keep a cooler head.
A turbulent offseason for Ravens puts extra focus on draft needs
A new coach. A failed trade. The loss of some key players, including center Tyler Linderbaum. It's been three months of action and reaction but are the Baltimore Ravens improving this offseason? Luke Jones and Nestor reset the turbulent offseason of general manager Eric DeCosta as the NFL Draft approaches in Pittsburgh on April 23rd.
888Paid Advertisement
