The Tampa Bay Buccaneers reported for voluntary workouts today, and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was not present in the midst of swirling rumors.
Teams that hired new head coaches are awarded three extra days to install the new regime, and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being one of those teams, players reported for voluntary workouts today. Among those who did not show up for the first day of the workout was nine-year Buccaneer Gerald McCoy.
As McCoy’s name has not been able to escape the whirlwind of offseason rumors, it appears that the writing is on the wall for the perennial Pro Bowl defensive tackle. As the 2019 NFL Draft inches closer, McCoy’s days in Tampa Bay seem to be numbered and he may be looking for a new team before long.
The Buccaneers currently have less than $2 million in cap space, draft picks accounted for, to play around with in order to add more talent to their current roster. McCoy is set to make $13 million this season, over three times the amount that the Buccaneers paid for their highest profile free agent Shaquil Barrett.
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The Buccaneers used their first round pick from a year ago to nab defensive tackle Vita Vea and very well could add another defensive lineman in the form of Quinnen Williams if he slips to the fifth overall pick. If McCoy survives in Tampa Bay to the end of April, then this certainly would signal the end of his tenure with the Buccaneers.
The times are changing in Tampa Bay as the team is shifting to a younger, more athletic style of play, a scheme that McCoy does not quite fit in to. It will be interesting to see if there is much of a market for McCoy, but given the value on the current trade market, the Buccaneers will probably not see more than a late day-three pick in exchange for their star defensive tackle.
While McCoy has been a staple for the Buccaneers’ organization and the community of Tampa Bay, he may just carry too high of a price for his production, and at the age of 30, it is unlikely that his contributions will increase. It will be sad to see McCoy depart, as it appears that he will, but it is a necessary move for the Buccaneers to move forward into 2019.