Chase Mclaughlin

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	FG%
Career		66	84.9%
2025		17	84.2%
2024		17	93.8%
2023		17	93.5%
2022		16	83.3%
2021

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Salary-cap math on Chase McLaughlin's contract works out to a B Contract Value Index given the dead-cap exposure and term. The $4.1M average annual value over three years represents fair-market pricing for a kicker who has demonstrated reliability across a seven-year career, though his 2025 season performance grade of B- reflects the baseline consistency you'd expect from a specialist in his stage rather than elite production. The Contract Value Index appropriately balances his modest salary commitment against the positional scarcity at kicker—a role where three-year deals in this price range are standard for proven veterans, and McLaughlin's track record justifies the investment. At 30 years old, he sits squarely in the prime earning window for specialists, where experience and leg strength typically plateau before age-related decline accelerates; the three-year term acknowledges his likely productive window without overcommitting to a player entering the back half of his career. What elevates the narrative around this deal is the media landscape captivated by his historic 65-yard field goal against Philadelphia—a singular accomplishment that has reshaped his national profile far beyond what the contract itself reflects, generating outsized attention across mainstream and fantasy platforms. The Buccaneers' recent addition of backup kicker B.T. Potter suggests organizational clarity that McLaughlin remains the primary leg, and the CVI grade holds firm: this is a sensible, market-rate contract for a veteran specialist whose leg has just produced the most talked-about kick of the offseason.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Chase's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Chase McLaughlin is a seven-year veteran kicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who has logged 66 career games in the NFL. The 30-year-old has established himself as a reliable, if unspectacular, option in the kicking game, earning a B-minus overall grade. McLaughlin represents the type of experienced specialist teams cycle through regularly—consistent enough to hold the job, but rarely among the league's elite performers at the position. This season, McLaughlin's 84.2 field goal percentage sits virtually aligned with the NFL average of 84.38 percent, which underscores his pedestrian standing in 2025. His performance has dipped noticeably from a B-grade season in 2024, marking a concerning downward trend that warrants monitoring. While his career body of work reflects a capable pro who has maintained employment across seven seasons, the current-year slide suggests either age-related decline or diminished consistency when it matters most in critical moments. Looking ahead, McLaughlin faces a critical juncture where maintaining his roster spot depends on steadying his accuracy and performing reliably in high-leverage situations. If he cannot arrest the decline evident in his 2025 trajectory, Tampa Bay will likely explore younger alternatives or established veterans in free agency. The next several weeks will be pivotal in determining whether this remains a short-term dip or the beginning of a downward career arc for the veteran kicker.

How Chase Compares at the Position

Chase Mclaughlin ranks 8th of 39 graded pks by performance. That slots Chase between Cam Little (B-) just ahead and Ben Sauls (B-) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Chase McLaughlin has emerged as one of the most compelling stories in the 2026 NFL offseason, with recent headlines celebrating his record-setting performances, including a 65-yard field goal and the longest outdoor field goal in NFL history. Despite his lack of Pro Bowl selections or All-Pro honors throughout his seven-year career, the kicker's recent achievements have substantially elevated his media profile and fan perception beyond typical role-player expectations. The uniformly positive coverage surrounding his historic kicks suggests that McLaughlin has transcended his traditional backup/role-player status in the eyes of both analysts and fans, at least temporarily. However, it is important to note that kicker perception can be volatile—dependent on weekly performance and clutch moments—and these accolades, while impressive, do not yet constitute the sustained elite-tier recognition that would anchor him in the Pro Bowl tier long-term. Heading into 2026, McLaughlin enters with genuine momentum and elevated credibility, though his reputation will ultimately hinge on consistency and whether these record-setting performances translate into reliable, pressure-tested execution during the regular season.