From 2021 to 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won three straight division titles for the first time in franchise history. Heading into 2024, confidence is high within team headquarters that they can make it four in a row in the NFC South, even if national media expectations seem to be quite a bit less enthusiastic. Don't count Gerald McCoy among the doubters.
Once a six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle for the Buccaneers and now a member of that aforementioned national media, McCoy was at Tampa Bay's training camp on Sunday to help NFL Network provide coverage of the team. While making an appearance on the Bucs' Training Camp Report show, he stated in no uncertain words that not only does he believe the Bucs will capture another division crown, but that they could be Super Bowl contenders if things break right.
"One, we're going to 'four-peat' for sure in the South," said McCoy. "I said 'for sure' because I mean it. I'm not really worried about anybody. The NFC is deep, it's loaded. Playoffs is a no-brainer; we're going to make the playoffs. Now how far we go will be dependent on our health, for sure, and how we jell and mesh throughout the season. Then there's other factors – other teams' health, there might be some darkhorse teams that come out of nowhere – but I know for sure we will be in the contention. You're not going to talk about the NFC and who's a Super Bowl contender without bringing us up, for sure.
McCoy, the third pick overall in the 2010 draft, played nine seasons in Tampa before finishing up his playing days with the Panthers and Raiders. He amassed 54.5 sacks as a Buccaneer, fourth most in franchise annals, and was a first-team Associated Press All-Pro choice once and a second-team selection twice. McCoy played the three-technique position in the Bucs' defense, much as Warren Sapp did before him and Ndamukong Suh did after him. One of the reasons that McCoy thinks the Bucs' defense, which finished seventh in the NFL in points allowed last year, will be even better in 2024 is that he sees second-year player Calijah Kancey emerging as the next Bucs star at his position.
"Vita [Vea] has been incredible, but I'm excited to see the emergence of the rest of the D-Line, namely Calijah," said McCoy. "This city and this defense was built on three-techniques or under tackles since Warren Sapp has been here. You try to make sure you have a guy like that in the middle. Warren Sapp was here, then they brought me in, they bring in Suh and now Calijah's here. If he has the year I'm pretty sure he's going to have, this defense is going to go to the next level."
As for the offense, it's no surprise that McCoy is a Baker Mayfield fan, as they are both former Oklahoma Sooners. When the Bucs signed Mayfield in 2023 to relatively little fanfare, McCoy believed that the struggles the former first-overall pick had towards the end of his four years in Cleveland were the product of injuries. A healthy Mayfield, McCoy figured, would thrive in Tampa, and that's exactly what happened.
"There's a difference in training and rehabbing," said McCoy. "He did a lot of rehabbing in Cleveland, and he said, 'I'm healthy. Give me a year to show what I can be healthy.' So when he signed here, this is what this guy said and I know what he is, cuz obviously he's a Sooner and I followed his career. And I knew that Baker was going to be 'the guy.' We had a QB competition last year, but me personally I knew Baker was the guy, and if he had an opportunity to show who he is, that this city – because I know this city – will be pleased and they will love him.
"What people don't understand about coming into this year, is the confidence and comfort a person can play with when an organization pays you, saying, 'We believe in you. We believe you're the guy.' Him knowing that, him knowing the city loves him, this city wants him here, this organization wants him here – if you thought Baker was good last year, just wait until you see him now."
McCoy was bullish on the Mayfield's potential in Tampa last year, and now he's just as confident that the Buccaneers will be back on top of the NFC South by season's end. Hopefully he's right once again.
