McCoy’s Future With Bucs After 2019

Opinion Editorial:

Ok my fellow Bucs fans, hear me out. I have been a Gerald McCoy supporter since day one when Tampa Bay drafted him in 2010. However, it’s time to face the reality that 2019 is probably going to be McCoy’s last season in Tampa Bay.

There are a number of reasons for this. First and foremost, the biggest concern is the salary cap. When it comes to the future of the Bucs and the current limited amount of salary cap space available for Tampa Bay, it is hard to believe that McCoy would get a long-term contract extension.

McCoy is on the wrong side of 30, being 31 years old, his production has started to slip in the last few years, and he has trouble staying healthy throughout his career. In his nine seasons with Tampa Bay, McCoy has managed to play a full 16 game season only twice in nine years. The kind of money that McCoy would demand going forward could be used in other ways to address other needs on the team going forward to rebuild and retool the team.

Finally, the scheme. Could McCoy play in either a 4-3 or 3-4 style defense, yes, but he is better suited for the 4-3. With Todd Bowles being the Bucs defensive coordinator and quite possibly the future head coach for the Bucs, the Bucs are going to run a hybrid 3-4 style defense. McCoy’s primary position is the defensive tackle. Tampa already has a younger, potential up and coming star at the defensive tackle/nose tackle position in Vita Vea who has a bright future.

G-Mac has been a fan favorite of myself and many other Bucs fans since 2010. He’s given his all for this team and we Bucs fans are grateful for that, but the NFL is a business. While there are no hard feelings, sometimes you just have to do what’s best for the future of the team.

I expect this to be McCoy’s last year in Tampa Bay, but I also expect it to be a really good one to end his time with the Bucs on a high note. G-Mac, we love you. It’s time to ball out in 2019. Go Bucs!