Gerald McCoy - Pro Football Rumors

Gerald McCoy To Visit Browns

May 23rd, 2019 at 2:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Gerald McCoy will kick off his free agent tour by visiting the Browns on Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Browns GM John Dorsey has also confirmed that McCoy will meet with team brass (Twitter link).

The Browns have been connected to McCoy for some time, but they decided against trading for the defensive tackle while he was under contract for $13MM in the upcoming season. After his Bucs release, the Browns might be able to sign him at a lesser rate without giving up any draft capital.

There’s also mutual interest between McCoy and the Ravens, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com hears. The Browns’ up-and-coming roster appeals to McCoy, per Cabot, but he also likes the Ravens’ top-ranked defense a lot and has some relationships in that locker room. The Patriots, Falcons, Saints, Colts, and Bengals are also interested in the six-time Pro Bowler.

Patriots, Falcons, Saints Interested In Gerald McCoy

May 23rd, 2019 at 10:10am CST by Zachary Links

Free agent Gerald McCoy has at least six suitors in pursuit. The Falcons, Patriots, and Saints have shown a level of interest in McCoy since his release from the Buccaneers, according to ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine (on Twitter). As previously reported, the Bengals, Colts, and Browns are also looking into the defensive tackle.

The Falcons have little in the way of cap space, so they’d have to get creative if they want to sign McCoy. But, after seeing his best work up close for nine seasons, they’re obviously motivated to find a way to make it work.

The Patriots would give McCoy an opportunity to win while pairing with Michael Bennett on the Patriots’ defensive line. The Pats haven’t had a versatile and dominant interior lineman of McCoy’s caliber since the retirement of Vince Wilfork, so he would fill a long-standing need for them.

Meanwhile, Saints quarterback Drew Brees is lobbying hard for McCoy to come to New Orleans.

“He’s a stud, he’s a great player,” Brees said this week. “I mean you’re basically asking me if I would love having a Pro Bowl defensive tackle that I’ve spent the last eight years trying to run around and avoid, not have hit me, join our team. Yeah, of course.”

But, like the Patriots and Falcons, the Saints are working with limited cap room.

Bengals Interested In Gerald McCoy

May 22nd, 2019 at 5:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bengals have expressed interest in free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

McCoy has been a popular name since being released by the Buccaneers earlier this week, as both the Browns and Colts at least considered signing the veteran interior defender. Cincinnati, for its part, doesn’t have nearly as much available cap space as does Cleveland or Indianapolis, but with more than $20MM in reserves, the Bengals could certainly fit McCoy onto their books.

The Bengals made two offseason additions — free agent Kerry Wynn and fourth-round draft choice Renell Wren — to a defensive line that already included Geno Atkins, Andrew Billings, Carlos Dunlap, Carl Lawson, and Sam Hubbard. McCoy would likely become an immediate starter next to Atkins (and thus reduce Billings’ playing time), but there’s plenty of rotational snaps to go around, especially on a unit that ranked only 28th in pressure and 30th in adjusted line yards, per Football Outsiders.

McCoy, 31, ranked fourth among defensive tackles with 21 quarterback hits in 2018 and finished as the NFL’s No. 28 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus. He’s demonstrated the ability to line up at a few different spots along the defensive interior, which could be a plus for the Bengals and new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

Colts Interested In Gerald McCoy

May 22nd, 2019 at 11:48am CST by Zachary Links

The market for Gerald McCoy is starting to take shape. The Colts “have a level of interest” in the defensive tackle, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59.

The Colts still have $58MM available after a quieter-than-expected offseason, so they could be real contenders for McCoy, the top remaining free agent. The Colts fortified their edge rush a bit by adding Justin Houston on a two-year, $23MM deal in late March and McCoy could serve to strengthen things up on the interior.

The Bucs didn’t think McCoy was worth ~$13MM for 2019, but he was still quite productive in 2018 as he posted six sacks and brought his career total to 54.5. Like Houston, McCoy offers an impressive resume with multiple Pro Bowl appearances plus a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2013 when he posted a career-best 9.5 sacks.

The Browns are also said to be interested in McCoy and the veteran would also make sense for clubs like the Patriots, Saints, Chargers, Cowboys, Broncos, and Vikings.

Browns Inquire On Gerald McCoy

May 22nd, 2019 at 10:27am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns have inquired on free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. We learned earlier this week that the Browns discussed McCoy internally and their interest seems to be genuine now that they have made direct contact with the six-time Pro Bowler.

The Browns weren’t interested in trading for McCoy when he was set to make $13MM in 2019, but he could potentially be had at a lower rate now that he is a free agent. Of course, the Browns won’t be the only club to kick the tires on McCoy, especially since the Bucs took fellow defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh off the market on Tuesday. The Patriots, Saints, Chargers, Cowboys, Broncos, and Vikings would all make varying degrees of sense for the accomplished sack artist.

Meanwhile, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) notes, Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is already lobbying to bring McCoy to Cleveland.

Browns Considering Gerald McCoy

May 21st, 2019 at 12:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers have moved on from Gerald McCoy, but he might not be out of work for long. The Browns have had “positive” internal discussions about the defensive tackle, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears.

Fowler also hears that price will be a driving force in the Browns’ interest level, which goes for any free agent. McCoy’s pedigree as a six-time Pro Bowler suggests that he could fetch a high price on the open market, though his recent production complicates matters.

McCoy did not make the Pro Bowl last season, his first snub since 2011. Still, he managed six sacks and graded as one of Pro Football Focus’ upper-echelon interior defenders. He’s also proven to be durable, having played in at least 14 games in each of the past seven campaigns.

At this juncture of the offseason, McCoy stands as one of the top free agents left on the market. Of course, he would have had a stronger market if he was released in March, but there are still dollars to be spent in the NFL. The Browns, for example, have upwards of $33MM to burn. Ten other clubs – the Colts, Texans, 49ers, Titans, Raiders, jets, Bills, Dolphins, Eagles, and Seahawks – have more than $25MM in breathing room.

Buccaneers Release Gerald McCoy

May 20th, 2019 at 5:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Gerald McCoy‘s time in Buccaneers limbo will end with a release. The nine-year veteran has been informed he will be cut soon, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). The Bucs announced the release.

This has been a consideration for a while, but the team has finally decided on a course of action. The Bucs did not want to pay McCoy his $13MM 2019 salary, per Stroud, and did not find a trade partner. Trade talks commenced for two months, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The team did not ask McCoy to take a pay cut.

McCoy will become one of the most attractive free agents on the market. Although, being released in mid-May does not do the longtime Bucs stalwart any favors. He will join fellow 2010 top-five defensive tackle pick Ndamukong Suh as a top-caliber free agent.

Though McCoy failed to make the Pro Bowl last season — his first such omission since 2011 — he still recorded six sacks and rated as one of Pro Football Focus’ upper-echelon interior defenders. McCoy also has avoided serious injuries, the six-time Pro Bowler having played in at least 14 games in each of the past seven seasons.

The signing bonus-averse Bucs will create $13MM in cap space; McCoy had three years remaining on a seven-year, $95.2MM contract. The Bucs currently possess barely $1MM and needed to make a move in order to finish up signing draft picks.

Of course, a Tampa Bay defense that was one of the NFL’s worst in 2018 now will be without its top two pass rushers. Jason Pierre-Paul will be out for a while after sustaining a neck injury in a recent car accident, and McCoy (54.5 career sacks; at least six in six straight seasons) will almost certainly sign elsewhere soon in advance of his age-31 season.

The Bucs used a 2018 first-round pick on Vita Vea and are moving to a 3-4 look after using a 4-3 scheme throughout McCoy’s career. Still, this now profiles as one of the NFL’s most pass rush-needy teams.

Latest On Bucs, Gerald McCoy

May 15th, 2019 at 1:55pm CST by Zachary Links

Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy remains in limbo. It has long been speculated that the Buccaneers will either trade Gerald McCoy, release him, or ask him to take a pay cut from his slated $13MM salary for 2019. Of course, the first two scenarios have not happened yet and the club still has not asked McCoy to take a salary trim, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

Reading between the lines, it sounds as though the Buccaneers are pretty certain that they’ll be moving on from McCoy. If they wanted McCoy to stay in Tampa, they probably would have discussed a pay reduction with him by now. The fact that they haven’t suggests that they want to offer McCoy much, much less than $13MM – a figure so low that McCoy would not even consider it.

Lately, coach Bruce Arians and GM Jason Licht have been non-committal when asked about McCoy, who has been with the club for nine seasons. It remains to be seen whether McCoy will show for any part of voluntary OTAs and, if the situation drags, he may even stay home during the club’s mandatory minicamp between June 4-8. If McCoy no-shows, the Bucs will have the ability to fine him.

Despite his past accomplishments, an April report indicated that McCoy has not generated trade interest.

Bucs’ Gerald McCoy Discusses Trade Rumors

May 11th, 2019 at 11:41am CST by Ben Levine

We’ve been hearing for several months that the Buccaneers have been looking to move on from veteran defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, but the front office hasn’t had much success finding a trade partner. Thanks to the uncertainty, the 31-year-old didn’t show up to the team’s offseason workouts back in April. Despite his absence, McCoy made it clear this week that he’ll suit up for whatever team’s rostering him come the start of the regular season.

“I will be playing football somewhere,” McCoy told Mike Cairns of Spectrum Sports 360 in Tampa (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). When asked if he’ll be playing football for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, McCoy said “I don’t know. We’ll see. Fans know I love them. I’ll be on the field at some point.”

Since McCoy hasn’t been generating a whole lot of trade interest, it’s led some to assume that the veteran will ultimately be released by the Bucs. McCoy is due $13MM in 2019, and he is under contract through 2021, with cap charges north of $12MM in each of the next two years. The Buccaneers can move on from the defensive tackle without any dead money ramifications.

As Smith points out, it may be in McCoy’s best interest to attend the team’s voluntary workouts. If the lineman were to get injured, the Buccaneers would be responsible for his entire salary. As a result, his attendance could spark some urgency in the front office. Smith also notes that Jason Pierre-Paul‘s neck injury further complicates matters. There are rumors that the defensive end could be out for six months, meaning the defensive line with further lean on McCoy. The Buccaneers could choose to place JPP on the non-football injury list, a financial move that could change their opinion on McCoy’s roster spot.

In 2018, McCoy ranked fourth among defensive tackles with 21 quarterback hits and finished as the NFL’s No. 28 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus. However, he hasn’t played a full 16-game season since 2013, and he hasn’t graded as a top-10 interior defender since 2014.

Bucs Likely To Cut Gerald McCoy?

May 6th, 2019 at 6:02pm CST by Rory Parks

We heard last month that the Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy wasn’t generating much trade interest, and as Albert Breer of SI.com wrote today, nothing has changed on that front.

The primary barrier to a trade, of course, is McCoy’s contract. McCoy is due $13MM in 2019, and he is under contract through 2021, with cap charges north of $12MM in each of the next two years. And Tampa Bay does not have very much leverage, because other clubs who might be interested in McCoy know that the Bucs — who are right up against the salary cap — can clear all of that money off of their books with no dead money ramifications by cutting McCoy.

Plus, although McCoy is certainly still a good player, his on-field performance no longer justifies his contract. So as Breer notes, it’s much more likely that Tampa Bay releases the 31-year-old, especially since the club still needs to sign its rookie class, which includes the fifth-overall pick.

In 2018, McCoy ranked fourth among defensive tackles with 21 quarterback hits and finished as the NFL’s No. 28 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus. However, he hasn’t played a full 16-game season since 2013, and he hasn’t graded as a top-10 interior defender since 2014.