12. Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy – 2010-current

By Mark Cook

When it is all said and done McCoy will be a Top 10 Buccaneer. Already he is on the brink of Top 10 status, and if he can lead his defense to the playoffs, or even a Super Bowl one day, McCoy’s legacy as one of the greatest to wear the red and pewter will be cemented.

Living up to the hype of being the third overall pick in the draft isn’t easy, and after two straight seasons ending on injured reserve, the buzzards were circling what was left of McCoy’s broken biceps. The bust label was tossed about frequently, and even more insulting descriptions, like soft and injury prone, were heard often on sports talk radio and social media. But McCoy used those doubters as motivation and has been a warrior on the defensive line the last several seasons. The Bucs front office saw the work – and production – and rewarded him with a new contract in 2014, essentially making him a Buccaneer for life.

McCoy currently ranks fifth all time in sacks for Tampa Bay and needs just five to surpass David Logan move up to fourth on the list. McCoy has also been a more vocal leader the past couple of seasons, and while he doesn’t possess the same bravado Jameis Winston does, the former Sooner is as well respected by his teammates as anyone on the roster.

Cook’s Take: “McCoy isn’t the rah-rah guy acting like a maniac hyping up his teammates before games, and that is okay. McCoy’s leadership is seen after practice, when he grabs a couple practice squad offensive lineman and defensive lineman and works on blocking and shedding block drills. I have seen it with my own eyes on more than one occasion. The first one out on the practice field, the first one to run drills and the first one to give advice to the younger players. McCoy sets an example rarely seen by players with $100 contracts. McCoy wants to win and taste the playoffs. and has vowed to be that fourth quarter dominant player like his mentor Warren Sapp was. If he can become that closer, the Bucs trajectory will be off the charts in 2017.”