Buccaneers Will Bring Back DT Gerald McCoy, Despite Talk He Could Be Cap Casualty

According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy will return to Tampa Bay for the 2019 season, despite speculation that he could be a cap casualty this offseason.

Stroud says that new HC Bruce Arians and his staff evaluated McCoy’s performance and believe he will be a good fit in their 3-4 scheme under defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

Beyond that, Stroud doesn’t expect McCoy to be asked to take a pay cut in order to be back with the team.

Although, he will be asked to transition to playing defensive end from time to time in their base defense.

McCoy, 30, is a former first-round pick of the Buccaneers back in 2010. He’s currently in the fifth year of his seven-year, $95.2 million contract and set to make base salaries of $13 million and $10 million over the next two years of the agreement. 

In 2018, McCoy appeared in 14 games for the Buccaneers and recorded 28 tackles, six sacks, and a pass defense.