[2] On April 29, 2013, the Kansas City Chiefs signed McDougald to a three-year, $1.48 million contract after he went undrafted in the 2013 NFL draft.

[5][6] Throughout training camp, McDougald competed for a roster spot as a backup safety against Quintin Demps, Husain Abdullah, Otha Foster, Tysyn Hartman, Greg Castillo, and Malcolm Bronson.

Head coach Andy Reid named McDougald the fifth safety on the Chiefs' depth chart, behind Eric Berry, Kendrick Lewis, Husain Abdullah, and Quintin Demps.

[13] The Buccaneers claimed him after starting free safety Dashon Goldson sustained a knee injury and was inactive for two games (Weeks 8–9).

[14] Head coach Greg Schiano named McDougald the backup free safety behind Kelcie McCray upon joining the Buccaneers.

[16] On December 30, 2013, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired head coach Greg Schiano and general manager Mark Dominik after they finished with a 4–12 record in 2013.

[18] Head coach Lovie Smith named McDougald the backup strong safety to start the regular season, behind Mark Barron.

McDougald made his first career regular season tackle on running back Devonta Freeman after a three-yard gain in the fourth quarter.

[20] On October 28, 2014, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded starting strong safety Mark Barron to the St. Louis Rams for a fourth and a sixth round pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

On December 28, 2014, McDougald recorded four combined tackles, a season-high three pass deflections, and made his first career interception in a 23–20 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 17.

McDougald intercepted a pass by Jaguars' quarterback Blake Bortles, that was originally intended for tight end Marcedes Lewis, during the second quarter.

On October 23, 2016, McDougald recorded seven combined tackles, deflected a pass, and made an interception in the Buccaneers' 34–17 victory at the San Francisco 49ers.

[37][38] Head coach Pete Carroll named McDougald the backup free safety, behind Earl Thomas, to start the regular season.

He became the starting strong safety for the remainder of the season in Week 11 after Kam Chancellor sustained a neck injury and was subsequently placed on injured reserve.

[40] On December 3, 2017, McDougald collected a season-high 12 combined tackles (seven solo) and two pass deflections during a 24–10 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.

[46] In the NFC Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles, McDougald recorded a team high 11 tackles and sacked Carson Wentz once during the 17–9 win.