Through the first two weeks of the 2025 NFL season, kicking has been quite the rollercoaster for some teams, especially when it comes to field goals and extra points, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are no exception. Kicker Chase McLaughlin hasn’t looked nearly as automatic as he has for the Bucs the past two seasons.
With the kicker doinking another field goal in Week 2, what does McLauglin’s contract look like, and is there any chance Tampa Bay will be looking for some competition next week?
How Many Years Are Left on Kicker Chase McLaughlin’s Contract?
McLaughlin started the season off with a rough outing against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1, missing a 44-yard field goal wide left and an extra point, which hit the left upright. After banging through two extra points in Week 2, he matched his Week 1 doink, missing a 38-yard field goal off the right upright.
Chase McLaughlin hits the right upright. No good. pic.twitter.com/vU9lR8dvDf
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) September 16, 2025
If the misses were consistent, that would be one thing, but with McLaughlin’s aim seemingly all over the goalposts, it will be interesting to see if his yips continue. Last season, he made 93.8% of his field goals, with his only two misses coming from beyond 50 yards. That was a .3% improvement over his 2023 mark, where he missed one from 50+ and one from 40-49 yards.
In 2024, after his impressive 2023 season, McLaughlin signed a three-year, $12.3 million contract extension with $6.5 million guaranteed. The Buccaneers had a potential out in 2025 but kept him on the roster after another solid performance in 2024. McLaughlin has a $3.5 million cap hit this season, which climbs to $3.8 million in 2026.
Thankfully for Buccaneers fans, the kicker doesn’t have a dead cap hit in 2025 and 2026, which means moving on from the seven-year veteran wouldn’t hurt all that much. However, given how solid he’s been for the franchise the past two years, it will be interesting to see how long his leash will be.
Should he miss another tonight, it should be heavily considered. Given its issues on the offensive line, Tampa Bay cannot afford to miss out on any more points. He’s already cost them seven in two weeks, while it didn’t cost them in Week 1, Houston’s defense has been suffocating consistently, getting into the backfield. Every point is precious when the offense isn’t doing its best.
Given the offense’s struggles, McLaughlin may be saved from having to attempt another kick tonight.
