The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have cut Ryan Succop, and as a result, the team will be looking for a new kicker. They could look both in free agency or in the draft, but there is a third option that the team could explore — one it already has.
The Bucs do have a kicker on the roster as it stands. 25-year-old Jake Verity has played for multiple teams since he first entered the league in 2021, but he’s had some trouble sticking to one. He’s never been on a 53-man roster, but Tampa Bay’s unique situation could change that.
Verity went to college at ECU, and he signed with the Baltimore Ravens after going undrafted in 2021. He finished his career as a Pirate kicking 75.5% on field goals, with his best season coming in 2018 when he made just over 90% of his kicks. He tore his ACL after being signed by the Ravens, and he was subsequently waived by Baltimore in February of 2022. Since then, he’s been on the practice squad for the Colts, the Jaguars and, most recently, the Bucs.
He’s performed admirably in the preseason so far, kicking at 80% with the Ravens in 2021 and 100% with the Colts in 2022 with a long of 53 yards. Verity’s college resume isn’t particularly inspiring for a potential starting kicker, but he may get the chance to compete for a starting job in 2023.
Story originally appeared on Buccaneers Wire