Tampa Bay Buccaneers waive Rodrigo Blankenship

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have waived kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Blankenship had been with the team for just a little more than two months after signing a contract in June.

Set to enter his fourth NFL season, Blankenship spent the first three years of his career with the Indianapolis Colts. He played just one game for the Colts in 2022 before ultimately being waived and later signing with the Arizona Cardinals and appearing in two contests.

Blankenship’s best season thus far came as a rookie in 2020. He finished that year 32-of-37 on his field goal attempts (86.5%) and 43-of-45 (95.6%) on his extra point attempts. For his career, he is 47-of-56 (83.9%) on his field goal attempts with a long of 53 yards.

Blankenship played college football at Georgia, serving as the Bulldogs’ starting kicker from 2016-19. He never missed a PAT in 200 attempts throughout his career in Athens and converted 80-of-97 (82.5%) of his field goals. He still owns the record for the longest field goal in Rose Bowl history, making a 55-yarder in 2018 against Oklahoma. Blankenship also won the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the top kicker in college football as a senior in 2019.

With the move to waive Blankenship, it seems the Buccaneers are ready to move forward with Chase McLaughlin as their starting kicker. McLaughlin played for the Colts in 2022, making 30-of-36 (83.3%) of his field goals and all 21 of his extra-point attempts.

Per the NFL’s waiver rules, teams will have 24 hours to claim Blankenship. If he is not claimed before that deadline, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and is eligible to sign with whomever he chooses.

Baker Mayfield heckled Rodrigo Blankenship over 2018 Rose Bowl

Shortly after signing with the Buccaneers, Blankenship was subject to some jokes from former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield. Apparently Mayfield still wasn’t able to let go of the Sooners’ 54-48 double overtime loss to Georgia in the Rose Bowl five years ago.

“I still don’t like you,” Mayfield told the kicker.

Rodrigo Blankenship with a warm welcome on his first day with the Bucs. Baker Mayfield says, "I still don't like you."

Blankenship's Georgia Bulldogs beat Baker Mayfield's Oklahoma Sooners in the 2018 Rose Bowl CFP Semifinal. #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/i3oeVyKM8H

— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) June 13, 2023

Oklahoma held a two-touchdown advantage heading into halftime of that game but squandered the lead in the second half as the Bulldogs came back to force overtime. Blankenship then nailed a 38-yard field goal in the first OT period to force a second OT.

Of course we all know what happened next as Georgia’s Sony Michel went on to score a touchdown in the second OT to give the Bulldogs the win. That memory still lives rent-free in Mayfield’s head, but now he and Blankenship are no longer teammates after a brief two months together.