Chase McLaughlin has been the most consistent part of the Bucs team this year. The defense has improved in pressure, sacks and turnovers only to give up more chunk plays and points. The offense has seen stellar, single-game performances from a bevy or rookies and depth players, only to go into long periods of hibernation. But through it all “Money” McLaughlin has been Mr. Steady in Tampa Bay.

Setting The Pace With Long Bombs

After a shaky start to the season where he missed three of his first nine field goal attempts, including a blocked kick, in the Bucs’ first three games of the season, Chase McLaughlin has now connected on 14 of his last 15 since Week 4. And unlike former kicker Ryan Succop, McLaughlin has the difficulty setting turned all the way up to “All Madden.”

With his 57-yarder in Week 13 against the Cardinals, he now moves into sole possession of first place in the NFL this year in converted field goals of 50+ yards at nine. Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard was previously tied with him at eight headed into Week 13 action.

Bucs K Chase McLaughlin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

McLaughlin is also only five such kicks away from tying the all-time record of field goals from 50 yards or beyond at 14, set by the Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey all the way back in…2024. The reality of the modern NFL is that kickers are getting better from long distances. If you don’t have a guy you can trust from 50 yards or further back, then you don’t have a guy at all.

The Bucs made it by during their Super Bowl run in 2020 with Ryan Succop only trustworthy inside of 50 yards because they had a historically efficient offense. That isn’t the case in 2025. But thankfully because McLaughlin is around, they don’t have to worry about not getting points on drives that don’t quite make it to the plus-33-yard line.

Since he joined the Bucs in 2023, McLaughlin has connected on 88.5% of his attempts of 50+ yards. That’s just a tick lower his overall conversion rate of 90.8% over that same time period. It’s also the second-highest make rate among all kickers over that same time period. He only trails Nick Folk’s 91.7% – although Folk has only attempted 12 such attempts while McLaughlin is at an impressive 26 tries. For all the fanfare that Aubrey has received in Dallas for his impressive leg, he trails McLaughlin in consistency from distance.

Best Kicker In Bucs History

Chase McLaughlin has cemented himself as the best booter the Bucs have ever had. He is moving up the franchise leaderboards in volume stats. His two makes against the Cardinals put him just three behind Succop for sixth in franchise history. He still has a ways to go to “chase” down Martin Gramatica for the all-time Bucs lead at 137. But in terms of efficiency, no other kicker in team history can hold a candle to McLaughlin. His conversion rate coming into the Cardinals game was a full 6% over Ryan Succop, who is the next closest in team history. And now that number will rise again ever so slightly.

More impressively, McLaughlin’s already over more than 50% ahead of the next closest franchise kicker in makes of 50+ yards. In just two and a half years, McLaughlin has encapsulated the new NFL as it relates to kickers and put the Bucs at the forefront of a modern kicking game.

A Great Deal – And A New Deal

I hope American history connoisseurs appreciate that header. Thinking of how good Chase McLaughlin has been naturally takes me back to the three-year, $12.3 million deal he signed prior to last season. At the time I commented that the Bucs got a great deal and that McLaughlin left money on the table. That only looks to be more apparent a year-and-a-half later. He will be just a year out from free agency at the close of this season and could be up for a substantial raise by way of extension.

Bucs K Chase McLaughlin – Photo by: USA Today

He is due just $3.8 million next year. Currently, that would be ninth among all players sharing his position. He is firmly in position to ask for an extension that would pay him somewhere around $5.5 million per year, putting him firmly in the top five.

After all, where would the Bucs be without him? He has been instrumental in all seven of their victories this year. He hit the game-winner as time expired against the Jets. He did the same against the Seahawks just two weeks later. And his long shot against Arizona proved to be the eventual difference in a 20-17 victory.

“Money” has been money this season and will soon get more…money.