The Bucs have re-signed yet another one of their key free agents ahead of the start of the negotiating period on Monday, as they have agreed to terms with kicker Chase McLaughlin on a three-year deal. The Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport were first on the news.
Pewter Report has confirmed the contract details that Rapoport first reported.
McLaughlin originally signed with the Bucs last March, inking a one-year deal to replace Ryan Succop, who was released after three seasons. Succop had reached seventh on the franchise’s all-time scoring list, but his lack of range became a problem for Tampa Bay in 2022.
The addition of Chase McLaughlin was made with the team hoping it could get both accuracy and distance out of its kicker, and the veteran certainly delivered.
McLaughlin set a Bucs record for field goal percentage in a single season, connecting on 93.5% of his attempts during the 2023 season. He was 29-of-31 during the regular season, with both of his misses coming on blocked kicks. The accuracy was certainly there, and the distance was, too. He was 7-of-8 on kicks from 50-plus yards, providing the team with a reliable leg when the offense stalled out.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht noted that McLaughlin was a priority for Tampa Bay this offseason when he spoke to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago. In fact, when Licht mentioned that there should be another boat parade if the team could sign its own class of free agents, McLaughlin’s name was among them.
“We’re focused on signing ours right now,” Licht said at the time. “I mean, if we can re-sign Mike, Baker, Lavonte, Chase, Antoine and Tristan, we should be throwing another boat parade. That’s a pretty good class there.”
Chase McLaughlin Was A Difference-Maker For The Bucs In 2023
It didn’t take long for Chase McLaughlin to prove that he was an upgrade over Succop, as he was the deciding factor in the Bucs’ Week 1 upset win over the Vikings in Minnesota.
Tampa Bay won 20-17, with the difference being a 57-yard field goal from McLaughlin with 5:10 to go. That kind of range is something the team wasn’t getting before, and in just one week, the former Colts, Chargers, 49ers, Jaguars, Jets and Browns kicker delivered it for Todd Bowles and Co.
McLaughlin once again hit a 57-yarder in the Bucs’ season finale at Carolina. That was a 9-0 win for Tampa Bay, and the veteran kicker accounted for all nine points as the team clinched the NFC South for a third straight season.
“It’s been huge,” Todd Bowles said of McLaughlin’s accuracy from deep. “We couldn’t make those 50-yarders a year ago. Right now, we can make them easily. And he’s hitting them right down the middle…He’s been a big addition for us, and he’s come through every time.”
In addition to going 29-of-31 on field goals, McLaughlin was also 33-of-33 on extra point attempts in 2023.
By re-signing Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay keeps its special teams duo of McLaughlin and punter Jake Camarda together. Those two were the saving grace for the special teams unit in 2023, as the coverage and return units were less than stellar. Special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong retired this offseason and has since been replaced by Thomas McGaughey, so McLaughlin and Camarda will now lead the charge for the special teams units under a new coordinator in 2024.
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