Buccaneers Open Up Roster Spot With Release Of Special Teams Prospect

Roster moves are continuing around the NFL with teams allowed to have up to 90 players under contract. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gotten an ample look at the majority of their roster during the first eight OTAs of the offseason.

On Wednesday, the Buccaneers chose to make a move as the team released fourth-year kicker, Jake Verity, according to the NFL's daily transaction wire. Verity signed a reserve/futures contract with Tampa Bay in January and had been competing with Chase McLaughlin for the opportunity to replace veteran Ryan Succop.

McLaughlin was signed off the free agent market in March after suiting up for the Colts last season. He is now the heir-apparent to Succop and the only kicker remaining on the roster. McLaughlin made 30/36 field goals and 21/21 extra point attempts with a long of 54 yards in 2022.

Verity was entering his third year at the professional level with his fourth different team. Now, he'll be looking for another franchise to call home after also playing for the Baltimore Ravens (2021), Indianapolis Colts (2022), and Jacksonville Jaguars (2022). Verity and McLaughlin were teammates with the Colts for a couple of months prior to reuniting in Tampa Bay.

The Georgia native has yet to appear in a game at the NFL level. He suffered a torn ACL during his rookie season while working with Baltimore's practice squad. The Colts released him prior to the conclusion of training camp the following season. Verity was quickly picked up and waived again by the Jaguars after not being fully recovered from his injury.

Verity starred for five years at East Carolina University and was named a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2019. He made 74/98 field goal attempts and 130/133 extra point attempts while finishing as the program's all-time leading scorer.