Chase

McLaughlin

The Bucs brought in McLaughin to replace former long-time kicker Ryan Succop. In his lone season with the team, McLaughlin converted 29-of-31 field goal attempts and nailed 100 percent of his extra points. Now under contract through the 2026 season, McLaughlin is just the latest Buccaneer to re-up with the team in hopes of winning their fourth-straight NFC South title.

McLaughlin made 30-of-36 field goals for Indianapolis last year without missing an extra point, and has played 16 games in each of the last two seasons despite playing for five different teams between 2019 and 2020. He’ll be Tampa’s replacement for Ryan Succop at kicker after they moved on from Succop to save cap space.

He will kick Sunday against the Jags with the Colts operating as three-point road favorites in a 45-totaled affair. After starting for the Browns in 2021, McLaughlin was eventually released after the team drafted Cade York out of LSU in the 2022 draft. He then lost the preseason kicker battle in Indianapolis to recently released kicker Rodrigo Blankenship but gets a fresh start with the recent transaction. McLaughlin struggled in 2021 with the Browns, missing 6-of-10 field goal attempts between 40-49 yards. Consider McLaughlin nothing more than a low end streaming option in deep leagues that still include kickers.

The Browns also released kicker Chris Blewitt. After drafting LSU kicker Cade York in the fourth round, the team had no plans of holding a kick-off in training camp. York joins a team that should be an elite offense in 2022, making him an intriguing fantasy option for leagues that still utilize the kicker position.

The team in March didn’t tender McLaughlin as a restricted free agent, but the sides came together and McLaughlin is likely to return as Cleveland’s starter despite missing six of his 21 field goal tries in 2021. He made all four of his kicks of more than 50 yards while making just four of his ten attempts between 40 and 49 yards. McLaughlin could have some fleeting fantasy appeal for the Deshaun Watson-led Browns.

25-year-old McLaughlin was amongst the league’s worst kickers last season, making just 71.4 percent of his field goals. His experience will probably keep him on the workout circuit, but his odds of a long NFL career are not looking terribly great.

McLaughlin is out for the Browns’ Christmas Day matchup against Green Bay. Journeyman K Chris Naggar will get the start for Cleveland. Naggar, who spent time with the Jets in 2020 and has never attempted a pro kick, is not a viable fantasy option.

McLaughlin practiced in full on Friday but still made Cleveland’s injury report as a last-minute add. As it stands, Chris Naggar is the only other available option for the team on their practice squad. McLaughlin is expected to play but should still be monitored by managers up to kick-off.

Stefanski made the team’s kicker situation seem week to week rather than naming McLaughlin as the starting kicker for 2021. “Yeah, we go into game one with Chase for sure,” Stefanski said. “I mean, it’s a competition at every position throughout the season, but the plan was always to have two kickers.” McLaughin, who beat out Jets castoff Chris Naggar for the starting job, has made 22-of-28 field goals and 31-of-32 extra points over this two years in the league. He should remain on waivers this week against KC.

Cleveland will become McLaughlin’s eighth team in only three seasons. The Jets claimed him off waivers last year but didn’t activate him until the season finale in place of Sergio Castillo and Sam Ficken.