Gerald McCoy

The third overall pick in the 2010 draft, McCoy developed into a veritable force in the trenches by his third season for the Bucs. Over the course of the last six years, his per-16-game marks equate to 41.5 tackles, including 10.9 tackles for loss and 8.3 sacks. All of that output occurred within a 4-3 alignment, but a coaching change this offseason brought with it a 3-4 scheme. In conjunction with a likely role change, McCoy had a non-guaranteed base salary of $13 million, making it easy for the team to move on. Tampa Bay finally made the call to release him in mid-May, and after visiting Cleveland and Baltimore, he settled on the divisioal-rival Panthers. McCoy will fill a familiar function as an interior lineman within Carolina's defense.

As has become the norm in recent seasons, McCoy valiantly toughed out nagging injuries in 2017 to generate another productive campaign. The multi-time Pro Bowler was much more of a presence as a run stopper, coming just three tackles shy of his career-high 50. While his six sacks were his lowest figure in that category since 2012, they still represented an impressive figure for an interior lineman. Notably, this offseason netted the Bucs a nice haul of pass-rushing assets in free agent Vinny Curry, trade acquisition Jason Pierre-Paul and massive first-round selection Vita Vea. The presence of all three should finally give McCoy - who hasn't had the benefit of too many other legitimate pass-rushing threats alongside him in recent years - a respite from double- and triple-teams. That should not only help preserve his body over the course of a long season, but it could well lead to a significant boost in beatable, one-on-one matchups.

Despite battling foot, ankle and calf injuries in 2016, McCoy managed to miss just one game while racking up seven sacks, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The multi-time Pro Bowler doesn't appear to have lost a step despite having played seven seasons, and he continues to serve as an above-average pocket collapser. McCoy has already vowed to step up his fourth-quarter play in the coming campaign, after notching just two sacks during the final period of games last season and failing to record any quarterback takedowns in the last four games of 2016.

McCoy has been a one-man wrecking ball the last three years, ripping through endless double-teams to total 119 tackles and 26.5 sacks over 2,370 snaps. He did so despite playing through injuries at multiple points, so between a clean bill of health and the added defensive end help of Robert Ayers (free agency) and Noah Spence (second-round pick), there's reason to think McCoy could have his best year yet in 2016. The double-teams will never stop, but at least McCoy might finally have some teammates capable of helping him get to the quarterback.

McCoy finished last season with 35 tackles – 13 for a loss – and 8.5 sacks before missing the final two games of the season with a sprained knee. The former third-overall pick signed a seven-year, $98 million contract extension in October, and will anchor the middle of the Bucs' line for the foreseeable future. His ability to penetrate gaps and wreak havoc in opposing backfields makes him one of the rare talents in the league who can take the pressure off his linebackers to roam freely and make plays, and his output in the sack department makes him an IDP option in many leagues.

After looking like a potential high-first-round-pick bust his first two years, McCoy has now been able to stay healthy and be more much more productive the last two seasons. McCoy had a big year in 2013, as he had 50 tackles (35 solo), a team-leading 9.5 sacks, four passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He's easily one of the top defensive lineman in the NFL now and will look to continue that form in 2014.

McCoy finally put it all together in 2012 as he made his first Pro Bowl with tackles (23 solo), five sacks, five tackles-for-loss, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 15 games played. He will look to expand upon those numbers in 2013.

McCoy has been limited to just 19 total games over his first two seasons, while collecting just 29 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles. Hopefully 2012 will be a healthy and productive season for the former No. 3 overall draft pick.

Big things expected from this disruptive and quick defensive lineman who was a the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. McCoy is expected to start right away and could certainly help the fantasy fortunes of the Buccaneers' defense if he can live up to the hype.