Tampa Bay Buccaneers Make Smart Move to Extend Gerald McCoy

By RantSports Staff on October 25, 2014

The 2014 season has been a train wreck for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers so far. However, if there’s one bright spot, it’s been the play of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who signed a seven-year, $98 million contract extension on Saturday morning.

It’s not every day that a player like McCoy comes along, especially for a subpar team like the Buccaneers. So when the opportunity arises to lock down a player of his caliber for seven years, it’s smart to pull the trigger.

With this new deal, which reportedly includes $51.5 million in guarantees, McCoy will now be the highest paid defensive tackle in NFL history. Although the Buccaneers may have stretched in terms of how much money to give McCoy based on production, it’s certainly a smart move considering his career trajectory at this point.

McCoy is only 26 years old, and is coming off an All-Pro selection during the 2013 season. He also has two Pro Bowl appearances to his name, and should continue to get better as he matures in Tampa Bay.

Some will say that the Buccaneers overpaid for McCoy, but his impact (not his production) would say otherwise. He’s currently the top-rated defensive tackle according to Pro Football Focus, excelling as an interior pass rusher. His two sacks and nine hurries are evidence of that.

With all things considered, the Buccaneers made the right move. It might not be the sexy signing fans love to see, but it keeps one the franchise’s best players in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future.

Nice move, Mr. Licht.