Carolina Panthers: Gerald McCoy fortifies new-look defensive front

Gerald McCoy signing with the Carolina Panthers gives Ron Rivera’s defense a rebuilt defensive front that could spark a resurgence in the NFC South.

There has been plenty of turnover over the past couple of seasons with the Carolina Panthers defensive line. On Monday, the team worked out another way to shake up the defensive line as they landed the premier remaining free agent for 2019, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Panthers will sign the former Buccaneer to a one-year deal worth up to $10.25 million.

McCoy will now slot into the starting tackle role beside Kawann Short between a defensive end rotation of Mario Addison, free-agent signing Bruce Irvin and 2019 first-round pick Brian Burns. Speaking to the aforementioned defensive line turnover in Carolina, Short and Addison are the only holdovers from the past two seasons in that starting group now that McCoy joins the mix.

Once McCoy was released by Tampa Bay, there was clear interest throughout the league in adding his services. However, it became clear that it was a three-team race between the Panthers, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. Per Schefter, Carolina’s pitch that included Cam Newton ultimately won over the six-time Pro Bowler.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the deal and grade the Gerald McCoy signing for the Carolina Panthers.

Prior to agreeing to bring McCoy to Charlotte, head coach Ron Rivera and the Panthers were set to start Short and 2018 free-agent signing Dontari Poe at defensive tackle with 2016 first-round pick Vernon Butler rotating in for sporadic snaps. McCoy drastically changes that equation for the better.

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While the former division rival is on the wrong side of 30 years old at this point, McCoy is still far more of a threat as an every-down defensive tackle than Poe would be. Thus, slotting him alongside Short gives the Panthers an immediate upgrade in terms of their productivity and pressure up front.

Outside of what McCoy himself brings to the table, though, his presence will also help those around him be set up for more success in the 2019 season. Obviously, McCoy being on the field will alleviate some of the attention that can be paid to Short, but it also allows both Poe and Butler to fit into more natural roles as situational and rotational players on the interior of the defensive line.

Furthermore, the Panthers have changed up their edge-rushing situation this offseason with the additions of Burns and Irvin to complement the veteran Addison. Having two fearsome interior players like McCoy and Short to command attention in that regard should help to set up their defensive ends, particularly the lightning-quick and explosive rookie, Burns, for success in getting after the quarterback.

Even though Carolina is paying a pretty penny to land McCoy, they are still paying less than what the Buccaneers would have ($13 million) had they not cut him. On top of that, as Schefter noted, you can’t disregard the fact that Tampa Bay not only released him but then allowed Ndamukong Suh to take No. 93, which McCoy established himself wearing. It shouldn’t be a coincidence that he McCoy then signed with a division rival on the same day.

So the Panthers have landed a veteran player with proven production that slots perfectly into their defensive front to make it a more stable and cohesive unit. For good measure, the player is also likely to be highly motivated given the circumstances he’s faced this offseason. How can you not be in favor of this deal for Carolina?