Tag: Ryan Succop

Kickers the Bucs could target in the NFL Draft

Will Jason Licht draft another kicker?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves in a familiar (if unwelcome) situation: needing a kicker. After cutting Ryan Succop, the Bucs are back on the hunt, and knowing general manager Jason Licht, it may well lead them to the NFL Draft.

While Succop was a reliable kicker within 50 yards of the uprights, he was all but useless beyond it, making just two of seven field goal attempts beyond 50 yards in 2022. This was less of a problem when the Bucs had Tom Brady leading the best scoring offense in the league, but that is no longer a luxury they enjoy.

The Bucs saved $3.75 million against the cap by cutting Succop. Their current financial woes make it unlikely that they will be able to pay a top-end free-agent kicker to replace him.

That leaves the draft or signing an undrafted free agent, which may not be ideal. Jason Licht has not been very successful drafting kickers, trading up to the second round for Roberto Aguayo in 2016 and taking Matt Gay in the fifth round in 2019.

Aguayo flamed out almost immediately. He struggled mightily his rookie season, making just 71% of his field goals. The Bucs cut him in 2017 and he never kicked in the NFL again.

Gay also struggled his rookie year and was also cut by the Bucs after just one season. However, he managed to turn things around with the Los Angeles Rams, becoming one of the league’s most accurate kickers and signing the biggest free agent contract for a kicker ever with the Indianapolis Colts.

Despite the lack of success in the draft, it is the cheapest option for the Bucs, who have five picks between rounds five and six. Ideally, the Bucs would simply sign a kicker as an undrafted free agent, freeing up their draft capital for more valuable positions, but that has not warded Licht off in the past.

Here are rookie kickers the Bucs could target in the draft and in free agency afterward:

Should Titans pursue Ryan Succop in free agency?

With the Titans’ need at kicker, should they pursue Ryan Succop in free agency?

Another potential free-agent option at kicker emerged on Thursday, and it’s a familiar one: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released veteran kicker Ryan Succop, sending him to the open market.

After an unfortunate end to his tenure in Nashville, Succop revived his career with the Bucs, winning one Super Bowl while nailing 84.8 percent of his field goals over his three seasons there.

As soon as news broke that Succop was a free agent, Titans fans and media naturally and understandably began pondering if the former “Mr. Irrelevant” could be an option for Tennessee.

After all, the Titans parted ways with Randy Bullock this offseason, leaving 2022 UDFA Caleb Shudak, who lacks experience and enough of a sample size to be confident in, as the only kicker on the roster.

While a reunion with Succop would get me right in the feels, it’s not as automatic a decision as one might think.

One of the reasons Bullock was let go was because of his lackluster leg strength, which prevented the Titans from attempting longer field goals.

Succop, who has never been known for having a big leg, would not provide a boost in that area. Over the course of his three years in Tampa Bay, Succop made just 3-of-10 50-yard field goals, including just 2-of-7 in 2022.

Adding to that, Succop could prove to be just as, if not more expensive than Bullock. The former Chiefs, Titans and Bucs kicker made an annual average of $4 million on his last deal, while Bullock made $2.3 million.

Now, this is not to say I’m totally against bringing Succop in as competition for Shudak if the Titans can’t find another big-legged kicker someplace else to compete with him.

But that’s only if Succop comes cheap and with the understanding that he isn’t promised the starting job. I don’t see that happening, as the veteran should be able to land a definite starting job for good money somewhere in 2023.

[polldaddy poll=12006455]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Bucs release kicker Ryan Succop

Succop’s release clears up $3.75 million in cap space.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a new kicker in 2023.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday that the Bucs released kicker [autotag]Ryan Succop[/autotag], who had been with the team since 2020. Succop’s release frees up $3.75 million in salary cap space for 2023.

Succop performed well for Tampa Bay in the time he was there, being a reliable kicker for the team after numerous years where there wasn’t before he arrived. His initial 2020 season was his best with the Bucs, as he completed 90.3% of his field goals and 91.3% of his extra points. That number has gone down every year since, though, as he completed just 81.6% of his kicks in 2022 — his declining range was also a problem, as he made just two of his seven attempts from 50 yards or greater.

The Bucs will have to find a new option at kicker for the 2023 season, either by drafting a new one or signing one in free agency.

Cap-saving cuts the Bucs could make this offseason

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might have to cut these players to save salary cap space this offseason

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are officially entering the post-Tom Brady era, and there are some rough seas ahead, thanks to a daunting salary cap situation, and a long list of key free agents on both sides of the ball.

Currently projected to be around $55 million over the salary cap for the 2023 season, the Bucs are going to have to make some tough personnel decisions in the coming weeks, especially if they want to retain any of those pending free agents.

While a few restructured contracts could help, it’s likely the Bucs will have to make some uncomfortable cuts to save some cap space.

Here are a few that seem the most likely:

WATCH: Bucs beat Cardinals on walk-off field goal in overtime

Watch Ryan Succop give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a walk-off win in overtime Sunday night against the Arizona Cardinals

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made yet another fourth-quarter comeback Sunday night, but it took overtime to finish off the Arizona Cardinals on the road in front of a national audience.

After tying the game in the final minutes with a 42-yard field goal, Bucs kicker Ryan Succop won it with a 40-yarder in overtime.

Tampa Bay trailed 16-6 with just over eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but clawed their way back into the game thanks to a defense that kept making clutch stops, and an offense that finally came to life down the stretch.

The Bucs improve to 7-8 on the season with the win, keeping them in first place in the NFC South, with a chance to clinch the division at home next week against the Carolina Panthers.

[listicle id=74295]

Fantasy Football: Top streaming options in Week 2

Taking a look at the top streaming options for fantasy football in Week 2.

The 2022 NFL season is only heading into Week 2, and fantasy football managers already need to look for streaming options on the waiver wire.

Whether managers need to replace a quarterback like Dak Prescott, who is expected to miss at least a month, or whether they need to find a new tight end, embracing the stream life may be the only viable option.

In order to qualify as a streamer, a player must be available in more than 40% of ESPN leagues at the time of writing. Each week, we will focus on the quarterback, tight end, defense/special teams, and kicker positions.

For each position, I’ll give a “stream of the week” indicating the priority streamer along with an additional two options. Don’t be afraid to hit me up on Twitter with any questions or thoughts on the process (@KevinHickey11).

After taking a look at the top waiver wire targets for the week, here are the top streaming options in fantasy football for Week 2.

Fantasy Football: Top streaming options in Week 1

Here’s a look at the top streaming options for fantasy football in Week 1.

The first week of football is finally here, which means fantasy football managers are right at home tinkering and researching ways to build the optimal lineup.

It’s right where we all want to be.

Though the draft season is coming to an end, and the majority of managers are set for Week 1, there are those who will be taking on the stream life when it comes to certain positions.

The stream life isn’t for everyone. It’s chaotic, hectic, and stressful. But when it hits correctly, it can have a massive impact on a manager’s lineup.

In order to qualify as a streamer, a player must be available in more than 40% of ESPN leagues at the time of writing. Each week, we will focus on the quarterback, tight end, defense/special teams, and kicker positions.

For each position, I’ll give a “stream of the week” indicating the priority streamer along with an additional two options. Don’t be afraid to hit me up on Twitter with any questions or thoughts on the process (shameless plug – @KevinHickey11).

After taking a look at the top options on the waiver wire for Week 1, here are the top streaming options in fantasy football:

Ryan Succop beats out Jose Borregales for Bucs’ kicking job

For the third straight year, veteran Ryan Succop will handle the kicking duties for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are sticking with the veteran when it comes to their kicking duties for the 2022 season.

Jose Borregales is being waived (per The Athletic’s Greg Auman), which gives this year’s kicking job to Ryan Succop for the third year in a row.

Succop was solid and consistent for the Bucs throughout their Super Bowl run in 2020, but his numbers dipped a bit last season. Even so, he was strong throughout training camp and the preseason, while Borregales missed a pair of long field goals in the exhibition games.

This is the second year in which Succop has beaten out Borregales for the job. Don’t be surprised if the latter ends up back on Tampa Bay’s practice squad again, assuming he clears waivers.

[listicle id=70406]

Report: Titans who dined with Ryan Succop have not tested positive for COVID-19

It still isn’t clear which Titans players went to dinner with Succop, though.

Tennessee Titans players who dined with fully-vaccinated Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Ryan Succop, who has tested positive for COVID-19, have reportedly not received any positive tests for the virus this week.

The report comes from ESPN’s Turron Davenport, although he does not say specifically who the players were or when exactly the dinner occurred. The Titans and Bucs had joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday, and then a preseason game on Saturday night.

Tennessee currently has four players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, and head coach Mike Vrabel announced that he had tested positive for the virus on Sunday and remains in quarantine.

The four players on the COVID-19 list are outside linebacker Harold Landry, defensive lineman Anthony Rush, linebacker Nick Dzubnar and running back Jeremy McNichols. It isn’t clear if they tested positive or were close contacts.

Vrabel told the media on Tuesday that he was feeling better after originally having a sore throat and ear ache. He will need two negative tests in a 48-hour span in order to rejoin the team.

Tennessee has begun taking extra precaution, which includes mandating masks for players, coaches and staff inside the building.

Tennessee will play its final preseason game on Saturday night against the Chicago Bears.

[lawrence-related id=70001,69988,69976]

[listicle id=69992]

Bucs’ Ryan Succop, who had dinner with Titans players, tests positive for COVID-19

It isn’t clear which Titans players Succop had dinner with.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Ryan Succop has tested positive for COVID-19 just days after having dinner indoors with Tennessee Titans players, head coach Bruce Arians revealed on Tuesday.

Succop’s positive test also comes on the heels of Titans head coach Mike Vrabel testing positive for the virus, which he revealed on Sunday.

“All contacts [with Vrabel] were outside. We had one that went to dinner with some guys that did test positive today,” Arians said, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine. “He went to dinner with some Titan friends. That was Ryan Succop. So he’s out for this game.”

In a Zoom presser with the media on Tuesday, Vrabel said he didn’t know which players had been out to dinner with the Bucs kicker, who is also a former Titan.

It also isn’t clear when the dinner took place, but Tennessee and Tampa Bay did have joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday, and then a preseason game on Saturday.

Tennessee placed two more players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list earlier in the day — linebacker Nick Dzubnar and running back Jeremy McNichols. The Titans now have three players on the list after defensive lineman Anthony Rush was placed there on Monday.

Adding to the concern, John Glennon of Broadway Sports noted that special teams coach Craig Aukerman, who was running practice while Vrabel was out, didn’t appear to be at practice on Tuesday. However, it isn’t clear if Aukerman’s absence was COVID-19 related.

When asked if any other players or coaches had tested positive, Vrabel declined to comment.

The Titans head coach says he is feeling fine and hopes to be back in time for Saturday’s preseason game in Nashville against the Bears. He must get two negative tests in a 48-hour span before he can return but has yet to receive one.

[lawrence-related id=69935,69914,69899]

[listicle id=69933]