Berea, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Cleveland Browns interest in free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is real.
So real that general manager John Dorsey is doing his research and background on the six-time Pro Bowler, including asking offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who ran the Buccaneers offense for three years, about him.
“I think a lot of Gerald,” Monken said. “Gerald has had a tremendous career and was an outstanding football player for us. He is a great person. I won’t comment anything else about it. I know I can [comment] because he is a free agent and they let him go, but other than that, there was some other things that we talked about, but I like Gerald a lot.”
Tampa Bay released McCoy, who was scheduled to make $13 million in 2019, on Monday after nine seasons with the Buccaneers.
Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks didn’t want to discuss McCoy’s availability or the potential of adding him to a defensive line that includes Pro Bowlers Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon along with Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi when asked about it Wednesday.
“I think he is a good football player,” Wilks said. “I know he is out there now, and that is pretty much it.”
Dorsey is not content, and his job is never done regardless how good the roster looks on paper. And the Browns roster looks pretty good on paper right now.
Last year he signed linebacker Mychal Kendricks in May. Unfortunately, Kendricks’ legal problems led to the talented linebacker’s release, but it is a reminder that just because it is May, Dorsey is not going to rest on his laurels because there is no such thing as having too much talent or too many good football players.
The question is just how interested in the Browns would McCoy be?
Like it always does when it comes to free agency, it’s all about the Benjamin’s.
It stands to reason McCoy, 31, and his agent will want to recoup every penny of that $13 million he just lost out on, and then some, with a new contract.
The good news for Dorsey and the Browns is that salary cap space is not an issue. Cleveland has $33.35 million in room according to the latest updated figures from the NFLPA.
Length of contract matters too – especially to McCoy – but let’s be real, NFL teams always find ways to get out of deals. The Browns did it earlier this offseason when they dumped Jamie Collins with two years remaining on his massive contract but no guaranteed money.
Since 2010 McCoy is ranked fourth among defensive tackles with 54.5 sacks, including 6.0 in each of the last two seasons. He’s also added 296 tackles, 79 tackles for loss and 140 quarterback hits.
If they can agree on dollars, adding McCoy makes a ton of sense.
