The Bucs and Masters benefit from a contract in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Kansas City Chiefs took LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson with the third-overall pick in the draft. This year, Dominik and Masters can use Jackson's contract as a basis to negotiate McCoy's deal. It helps that both players are defensive linemen.
Typical deals for NFL rookies see an annual increase in the value of rookie contracts. That percentage can be added towards Jackson's contract, and minus some finer points, the contract should be rather cut and dry.
Jackson signed his contract in time for the first practice in training camp. ESPN reported that he received a five-year contract worth $57 million with $31 million guaranteed. Jackson's agent was Eugene Parker. McCoy's contract could total over $60 million with $35 million guaranteed.
McCoy and Masters have spent some of their time researching the Tampa Bay area and how McCoy can get active in community charities. McCoy, 22, plans on being very active in the local community and is spending his non-football time getting to know the area and find places where he would like to focus his community participation.
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound McCoy grew up a Buccaneers fan, and had a particular affinity for former Buccaneer legendary defensive tackle Warren Sapp.
Dominik and Masters declined to publicly comment on the upcoming negotiations, but both parties were optimistic that the contract would be an easy process and it would be done on time. The Buccaneers have not publicly announced the start date for their 2010 training camp, which will again be held at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, but it is expected to begin on or around July 31.
Last year, Tampa Bay signed first-round pick quarterback Josh Freeman on the day that the players reported for training camp. Contracts for quarterbacks tend to be more difficult to negotiate. Freeman's contract was reportedly worth $36 million over five seasons with $10.245 million guaranteed.
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