Chase McLaughlin has quietly been Tampa Bay's MVP through the first two games. McLaughlin is a perfect 6 for 6 on field goals and 4 for 4 on extra points this season. He has also connected on both of his attempts from at least 50 yards, and PFF currently has him as its highest-graded kicker with a 78.5 grade. His performance against Cleveland was probably the best example of just how valuable he has become.
With Tampa Bay's offense repeatedly stalling before reaching the end zone, McLaughlin kept putting points on the board. He went 4 for 4 on field goals, connecting from 59, 45, 31, and 31 yards. His 59-yarder tied for the third-longest field goal in Buccaneers history, and McLaughlin accounted for 13 of Tampa Bay's 19 points in the loss. His strong
start also brings up a question the Buccaneers will eventually have to answer. Has McLaughlin done enough to earn another contract? The answer has been building for much longer than these first two games. From 2023 through 2025, McLaughlin made 91 of 101 field goals, good for 90.1 percent. He also went 26 of 30 from at least 50 yards, an 86.7 percent success rate, while converting 97.6 percent of his extra points. Pewter Report noted before the season that he already ranked first in franchise history in field goal percentage and 50-yard field goals. Add his perfect start to 2026, and McLaughlin has now made 97 of 107 field goal attempts since joining Tampa Bay, a 90.7 percent success rate.
The timing matters because McLaughlin is playing in the final year of his contract. He is scheduled to make $3.8 million in cash this season, and the kicker market has continued moving upward. Brandon Aubrey and Chris Boswell received four-year deals worth $28 million this offseason, while Ka'imi Fairbairn received a two-year, $13 million contract. McLaughlin acknowledged in August that he would like to get an extension done early. The Bucs have already taken care of several important veterans, and McLaughlin has made a strong argument that he should be somewhere on that list.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Chase McLaughlin: Bucs early season MVP
