Chase McLaughlin

The free agent signing this offseason that’s never talked about is Chase McLaughlin. Tampa Bay paid top dollar for its money kicker — a guy Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager pulled off the street cheap before the 2023 season.

McLaughlin crushed it last season and earned his fat payday in March.

However, McLaughlin had a rough first two preseason games and that represented a dark cloud for many Bucs fans. Kicker uncertainty is one thing longtime Bucs fans know well.

In Wednesday’s joint practice against the Dolphins, McLaughlin made all four or five of his field goal attemps, so Joe was hopeful about last night. The last thing any fan wants is for their kicker to have a crappy preseason finale and think about that stumble for 15 days leading up to the season opener.

Last night, McLaughlin marched out for his first field goal try and drilled a 51-yarder. Frankly, Joe thinks that might have been the most important play of the night.

McLaughlin also nailed his three extra point tries.

In Joe’s mind, whatever hiccup McLaughlin had is gone.