Cleveland Browns: Gerald McCoy signing could come with consequences
With the news that the Cleveland Browns and free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy have mutual interest in each other, it feels worth stating that signing the veteran may come with some consequences.
The NFL off-season is reaching it’s end, as teams are gathering for OTA’s and getting ready for training camp. With that, there comes the release of veterans around the league, and speculation of where they fit best in their quest for a new contract.
That rings true this week, with the Tampa Bay Bucaneer’s releasing Gerald McCoy, mostly due to his salary and age, and replacing him with another veteran in Ndamakong Suh, who wasn’t much cheaper or younger. Speculation around the league is that McCoy wants to play for a winner.
Enter the Cleveland Browns, who’ve rebuilt this off-season with a new coaching staff and fresh faces all over the field. Having already made some splash signings, general manager John Dorsey could still be looking to make moves as he tries to turn the sleeping franchise into a championship contender.
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In order to do that, he has spent plenty of money since taking over in 2017 as general manager. The Browns had more free cap space the last two seasons than any other team, and Dorsey has used it to improve the roster all around, from signing Jarvis Landry to a large deal, to landing Odell Beckham Jr, and also getting key defenders such as Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson.
The mix of veterans and youth on this team provides a perfect balance right now. The addition of Richardson to the interior defensive line is great, as he and the 24 year old Larry Ogunjobi can work together to prevent double teams to the outside rushers.
Gerald McCoy is a great character guy who would be a good addition to the team, and he can most certainly add talent to an already impressive roster. However, signing him would cause more drama than is necessary. Richardson signed this off-season for $37 million over three seasons. With rumors that McCoy is getting offers close to $11 million a year, that would be alot of money to put into your defensive tackle position.
McCoy and Richardson being the veterans, and likely having the ego of most long time starters, won’t want to come off the bench. That would relegate the young Larry Ogunjobi to come off the bench. Ogunjobi is coming off of his best season, registering 55 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2018. Moving him to the bench could cause a riff with him and the team, and possibly upset other players on the defensive side of the ball.
With Myles Garrett stating he doesn’t think signing Gerald McCoy is necessary and feels the team is okay with what they have, it’s safe to say he probably isn’t the only one who feels that way.
McCoy could come in and be great on the field. But his signing could cause conflict in the locker room, and prevent the team from retaining a younger player down the road in Ogunjobi.
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With a young team with high expectations, staying drama free will keep you out of the negative headlines in the media. The less distractions this Browns team has, the more likely they come together and gel to help live up to the lofty expectations over the next few seasons.