TAMPA, FL – SEPTEMBER 16: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-21 at Raymond James Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Buccaneers should bring a franchise legend home to Tampa in 2021.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on top of the world after winning the Super Bowl. Now the new league year is approaching and the focus turns toward running it back in 2021.
Tom Brady will return as an energetic 44-year-old quarterback who has made himself a franchise legend in only one season. The Bucs should now look toward bringing another franchise legend back in Gerald McCoy.
Buccaneers can bring back Gerald McCoy for the title chase
McCoy was taken No. 3 overall by the Buccaneers in the 2010 NFL Draft and made six Pro Bowls with the franchise. He established himself as a star defensive tackle and signed a deal close to $100 million back in 2014.
He was then released in 2019 and spent one season with the Carolina Panthers before signing a three-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. An injury led to a quick release in Dallas.
Now McCoy is sitting on the open market and the Bucs are a perfect team to bring him in. The 33-year-old played in all 16 games with the Panthers in 2019 and should be feeling fresh given his quadriceps injury is fully healed. A year off the field could end up being a gift for someone who has so much wear and tear after a decade in the league.
Ndamukong Suh, Steve McClendon and Shaquil Barrett are all free agents this offseason as the Bucs look to piece back together the team that won it all last season. Adding McCoy to the mix gives the defensive front a former All-Pro talent who may be willing to take a bit of a discount to return home.
Tampa moved on from McCoy before Brady came to town. Now the team is simply going all-in and not worrying about the future. Bringing back the franchise legend on a one or two-year deal sticks with the current model set up by the front office. It also means a fan favorite returns for another Super Bowl run after he spent nearly a decade giving his all for the team and city.