McCoy joins Panthers, passes on Ravens

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Photo credit Photo Courtesy: USA Today

By Austin Medina  

The wait is over.

After more than two weeks of speculation, the highly coveted defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has signed with the Carolina Panthers.

It had been reported that McCoy, who was cut by Tampa Bay, would garner a contract similar to Ndamukong Suh (1 year, $10 million).

The Ravens were among the three final teams McCoy considered. According to Ian Rapoport, Baltimore offered McCoy more guaranteed money.

From @NFLTotalAccess: The #Panthers are signing FA DT Gerald McCoy, who left a lot of guaranteed money on the table to land in Carolina. A look at why ---- pic.twitter.com/JkIvngshhc

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 3, 2019

While the Ravens reportedly offered twice as much as Carolina, McCoy settled for an $8 million contract with $4 million guaranteed. 

If the decision came to be about money, the Ravens seemingly would have been his choice. McCoy spent his first nine years of his career within the NFC South.

With his decision Monday, he’ll spend another season in the South and get to play in a revenge game Week 2 as the Panthers host the Buccaneers.

For Ravens fans, signing McCoy would have been a cherry on top. With depth such as Brandon Williams and Willie Henry, the Ravens defensive front remains in great shape.

Although the Ravens missed out on a premier defensive lineman, there is a positive. At least McCoy decided to sign with the Panthers and not the division-rival Browns.

Imagine having to line up against Gerald McCoy and Sheldon Richardson as an interior lineman twice a year?