A little less than a month ago, kicker Justin Tucker said completing a long-term contract extension with the Ravens was a matter of when, not if. Both sides now have less than five days to make it happen.

The NFL’s seven “franchised” players have until 4 p.m. on Friday to reach agreements on long-term contracts with their respective teams. If no deal is reached, those tagged will play out the 2016 season under the franchise designation. In Tucker’s case, that would mean making $4.572 million in his fifth NFL season, a nice payday for the prolific kicker but not the outcome either side wants.

Ravens K Justin Tucker hit a 63-yard field goal in training camp practice, wowing those on hand.

But Tucker can go farther – a lot farther.

He says he hit a 79-yarder in pregame warmups in Denver when the conditions were perfect at the start of last season. And now Tucker’s leg feels even stronger.

“I definitely feel stronger, and that’s a credit to our strength and conditioning staff and the offseason program and the work that I was doing back in Texas,” Tucker said.

Tucker said he tries not to think about the maximum distance he can kick. It all has to do with the conditions at the time of the kick. In warm weather in Denver’s thin air, he can launch it a lot farther than in the cold winds of December, when his max could between 62 or 65 yards.