Chase Lucas
Getty
Chase Lucas on the field for Arizona State in 2018.
T
he San Francisco 49ers have had a productive offseason. Despite finishing 12-5 last season and returning to the playoffs after a one year absence, the 49ers were never a real threat, dealing with injuries to several key stars, preventing the team from reaching its full potential. This offseason, the 49ers have wasted no time in adding the pieces necessary to help them get back into Super Bowl contention, headlined by the addition of future Hall of Fame wide receiver, Mike Evans. But acquiring talent means that the 49ers have had to let players go in order to free up salary cap space.
One of the players that will not be returning is defensive back/special teamer, Chase Lucas. On Thursday, April 9, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo revealed that Lucas and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to a contract for the 2026 season, ending Lucas’ time in San Francisco.
Lucas, Bucs Agree to Deal
Lucas, who played in a career high of 15 games for the 49ers in 2025, came to terms with the Buccaneers on a one-year contract, giving the Bucs much needed help in the defensive backfield. While having a limited role on defense for the 49ers this season, making only nine tackles all year long, Lucas was a focal point on special teams and provides value in multiple phases.
“The Buccaneers have agreed to terms with CB Chase Lucas on a one-year deal, per his agent Jamal Tooson,” Garafolo said via a tweet. “Lucas, who appeared in 15 games for the 49ers [and] became a free agent when he went un-tendered as a restricted FA. Now [he] heads east to Tampa in Todd Bowles’ defense.”
Adding players to the defensive back room, such as Nate Hobbs, Lucas faced an uphill battle for more playing time with the 49ers in 2026. But in signing with the Buccaneers, he goes somewhere he is truly needed, giving him a much easier path for significant playing time if he impresses in camp.
Lucas’ Career Thus Far
Playing college football at Arizona State from 2016-20, and earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2017 and ’20, Lucas was a drafted in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions in the 2022 draft, spending the first two seasons of his career with the Lions’ franchise. A free agent following the ’23 campaign, Lucas signed a one-year deal with the 49ers ahead of 2024 and after spending the season on the practice squad, he signed a reserve/futures contract to return for 2025.