Buccaneers: Bringing Gerald McCoy back still makes sense

Gerald McCoy is still a fit with the Buccaneers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have kept one thing consistent so far during free agency; they’re only going after players that were on the team already. While the Bucs have brought back all of their starters from last season, there is no reason to believe that they wouldn’t expand their net to go after former players like Gerald McCoy.

At this stage of his career, McCoy is well into the sunset of his time in the NFL. After an injury and a declining level of play, McCoy is still looking for another team to land with after a brief stint in Carolina and Dallas.

After watching his former team go from being out of the playoffs to Super Bowl champs during his very brief absence, McCoy is likely thinking to himself, “there’s no place like home” when approaching free agency.

Gerald McCoy should see the Buccaneers as a great fit

For McCoy, home is undoubtedly Tampa. After many great seasons that put McCoy on the pedestal of one of the best defensive players in the NFL during his time, a return to Tampa would be a poetic ending to a great NFL career.

Fortunately for the Bucs, they are in complete control of the situation going forward. With no pressing needs and a desire to get younger in the draft, McCoy would have to sweeten the deal dramatically to get his old team to bite. A veteran minimum contract for a player at McCoy’s age is still a steal, and the Buccaneers need depth.

McCoy is an interesting prospect as the fourth or fifth guy on the line. The current starters are in no position of losing their spots, but better depth is still needed to help keep the roster on track to repeat in the playoffs.

During a year with many question marks at the position in the draft, and there are very many at defensive line, a draft pick is far from a sure bet as a depth piece. While the need is certainly at that position, the Bucs could pass on the defensive line if they don’t find the best fit.

If a situation like this did come to pass, McCoy would be a much better depth piece than the Bucs could find in other areas.

McCoy is likely not a game-changer, but the fans would be happy to see one of their captains return in a limited role. The deal would cost next to nothing to bring to life, and the Bucs would be adding to the best run defense in the NFL, not taking away from it.

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