Report: Buccaneers trying ‘hard’ to trade six-time Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy

It looks like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking for a way to salvage what’s turned into a bloated contract for defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

According to Michael Lombardi of The Athletic, the Bucs “are shopping him hard.”

Lombardi also notes the team isn’t getting much interest.

McCoy has not played to the level of his salary the last few years which makes teams reluctant. Hard to trade 13 million dollar contract if the player is not playing at a Pro Bowl level.

— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) April 3, 2019

Originally the No. 3 overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma, McCoy was one of the NFL’s most dominant interior defenders for years. He earned six Pro Bowl appearances and was voted to three First-team All-Pro squads and has accumulated 54.5 sacks in his career.

Yet his contract is a big issue. While still a solid defensive tackle, he’s dealt with nagging injuries the past couple of years and appears to be on the decline on the whole.

There’s been some talk that Tampa Bay might end up releasing McCoy, which makes some sense if there’s no trade partner. If he is released, the Bucs can let him go with no dead cap hit, despite the fact he has three years left on his current deal.