The Tampa Bay Buccaneers essentially made a trade on Tuesday. However, they were the only team involved. Within roughly a 24-hour span, the team cut defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and signed Ndamukong Suh, who plays the same position.
Ndamukong Suh and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finalizing a one-year deal, a source tells ESPN. Barring any late hang ups, Suh is now expected to be a Buccaneer.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2019
McCoy has been with the team since they selected him with the third overall pick during the 2010 NFL Draft (and coincidentally, was taken one pick behind Suh in that 2010 draft.). He’s played 123 games – all starts – for the Buccaneers. Over that span, McCoy has 54.5 sacks and 296 total tackles (79 being tackles for loss). This season will be McCoy’s age-31 season.
Suh, 32, has become a bit of a journeyman late in his career. After spending his first five seasons in Detroit, Suh played three in Miami before suiting up for the NFC representative in the Super Bowl, the L.A. Rams.
For the Buccaneers, this move was as much about salaries than on-field production. McCoy and Suh have relatively similar upsides at this point in their careers.
The Bucs have replaced the 3rd overall pick from 2010 with the 2nd overall pick from 2010.
According to @AdamSchefter , Tampa Bay is expected to sign Ndamukong Suh a day after releasing Gerald McCoy. The two rank 3rd and 4th in sacks by DTs since entering the NFL in 2010. pic.twitter.com/XLJaQqd1Z6
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 21, 2019
But McCoy was due $13 million this season. Instead, Tampa gets Suh. Although specific details aren’t known at this time, the agreement between Suh and the Bucs is expected to be a one-year deal at a significantly lower cost than what the team would have paid McCoy.
