The Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially parted ways with cornerstone defensive tackle Gerald McCoy on Monday. After months of attempting to trade him, McCoy was released after nine seasons, six Pro Bowls, and 54.5 sacks with the team.
Since he’s owed a salary of $13 million in 2019, McCoy had become too expensive for the cap-strapped Bucs. The Bucs had the least cap space in the National Football League prior to his release and still need to sign first-round pick Devin White.
While the Buccaneers post-McCoy plan appears to be Ndamukong Suh, we do not yet know where McCoy’s next stop will be. Here are five potential landing spots:
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a team that has been mentioned previously as a potential trade partner for McCoy and are reportedly interested in signing him now.
The Browns make a tone of sense. First and foremost, they have the fourth-most available cap space in the league, making McCoy’s potential asking price likely palatable. Viewed by many as a potential playoff contender, the Browns also fit the bill for a player in McCoy that has yet to experience the post-season. The ability to contend is likely being his absolute top priority when considering his next employer.
Then, there is the personnel fit. The Browns already feature two Pro Bowl-caliber players in Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon, along with rock-solid veteran Sheldon Richardson on their defensive line. Larry Ogunjobi is a fine player in his own right, but the prospects of adding McCoy has to be enticing for both the Browns coaching staff and the fans in Cleveland.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys make for a strong speculative fit for McCoy’s services. They are a playoff -caliber team with a young core and, pending extension negotiations with Dak Prescott notwithstanding, the Cowboys have the cap space to get it done. Also, like the Browns, they have a well-assembled front-seven loaded with Pro Bowl talent with one glaring hole: A three-technique defensive tackle that can generate consistent interior pressure. I’ve yet to hear mention of Dallas’ potential interest, but this would make sense on both sides.
Indianapolis Colts
Flush with the most cap space in the league, the Colts can certainly afford any potential asking price for McCoy’s services. They are also a likely playoff team and potential Super Bowl contender so they certainly check that box. Colts GM Chris Ballard has already made a splash addition by signing Justin Houston earlier this off-season. Following up with McCoy would go a long way towards really solidifying their pass rush.
The Colts are also heading into their second year in a 4-3 base defense after a wildly successful transition last season that saw the team jump from 27th in 2017 to 10th in 2018 defensive DVOA per Football Outsiders. Their new system is an ideal schematic fit for a one-gap penetrating three-technique like McCoy.
New Orleans Saints
Contender? Check. Fits the scheme? Yup. Cap space? Tricky, but not impossible. Revenge factor? Off the charts. If McCoy really wanted to stick it to the Buccaneers for the way his parting was handled, this would be his destination.
Adding fuel to the fire, Saints breakout defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is also expected to miss part of the 2019 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the divisional round of the playoffs. The door for a revenge tour in New Orleans is wide open here, and, if it happens, the Buccaneers may really regret allowing the McCoy situation to drag out the way they did.
Kansas City Chiefs
I struggled a bit in choosing this last one. I feel the four teams above are the best overall fits, but the Chiefs could be a dark horse candidate for McCoy’s services. They are in the midst of a complete overhaul of a defense that, despite several standouts, simply was not able to keep teams off the scoreboard in 2018 allowing 26.2 points per game.
Out are Justin Houston, Dee Ford, and Eric Berry. In are Frank Clark, Alex Okafor, and Tyrann Mathieu. The base defense will also see a flip from 3-4 to 4-3 making McCoy a logical, potent fit next to breakout defensive tackle Chris Jones. We know what the Chiefs have on offense. Could Gerald McCoy be the impact late-addition that helps the Chiefs get over the New England shaped hump in their collective sides?
