Why Gerald McCoy can stay with the Bucs

Now that the project is over, it's time to start determining the alignment of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019.

It's not as easy as it looks. According to spotrac.com, the Bucs are the last defensemen in the league with only $ 1,704,197 in maximum space and they need $ 10,354,829 to sign the repechage.

So, this leaves the team with a need for law around $ 8,650,632 to sign the eight players that he just wrote.

A popular – and very reasonable – theory has prevailed in recent months that this deficit would be overcome either by the exchange or the liberation of the long-time buccaneer Gerald McCoy, who is due $ 13 million in 2019.

McCoy may be on the wrong side of 30, but he can still be an effective player. Especially in the new system Todd Bowles will use in Tampa Bay.

However, with the recent draft of Bucs, there is no reason for the Bucs to cut the player for reasons of salary cap. They can easily gain ground elsewhere without losing a player who can still produce.

Unfortunately, I do not have any insider information. This is a theory I reached after looking at the Tampa Bay roster and analyzing what Bowles was doing with his defenses. Sprinkle in the preliminary results and here's what I've got.

But do not get me wrong, there is no such thing as a wage reduction scenario and all the dead money has been counted. These are hard facts on paper that work when moved properly.

Addition by subtraction

Keep things simple. Take a look at the Tampa Bay Preliminary Class:

LB Devin White
CB Sean Bunting
CB Jamel Dean
S Mike Edwards
Anthony Nelson
K Matt Gay
WR Scott Miller
DT Terry Beckner, Jr.

Suddenly, high school is packed with additions from Bunting, Dean and Edwards. The last of the trio, Edwards, is very intriguing, as he could queue at the machine from time to time, depending on who was in front of him. Be that as it may, the Bucs now have a total of eight half-corners and six safes.

Obviously, they will not carry 14 defensive backs on the lineup in 2019. Tampa Bay could reduce the lineup to five corners – Vernon Hargreaves III, Carlton Davis III, Stewart MJ, Bunting and Dean – and four safeties – Justin Evans, Kentrell Brice, Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards – which would mean that Devante Harris, Ryan Smith and Isaiah Johnson are gone.

These three players count for the 51 best contracts of the team. Releasing them would create $ 3,390,000 in space, leaving the Bucs with a need to $ 5,260,632 left to sign the class project.

Edwards and Stewart can pivot in the slot and safety positions while Bunting can occupy an outboard position, allowing Hargreaves to slide in when needed. This versatility will allow Tampa Bay to cancel one of Ryan Smith's most expensive contracts. $ 2,173,041 hit, which composes 64% money that has just been saved.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY HUI Sports

Go ahead and take another $ 1,000,000 with the imminent release of Cairo Santos, but even though Gay can not beat him, the Bucs will save around $ 576,133 if they do not sign Gay. Figure in the worst case, Santos wins the post and the Bucs now need $ 4,684,499 (this could fall to $ 4,260,632 if Gay wins the job).

Bunting for Smith. Dean for Harris. Edwards for Johnson. Gay for Santos.

The project played perfectly in the hands of Tampa Bay, but it does not stop there. Two other choices will help determine McCoy's future with the Bucs.

It is there that it becomes interesting.

It all marries wonderfully, but let's start with the heart of everything in Devin White.

White will automatically become a three-line linebacker, managing the midfield while serving as a defense captain.

Its mere presence already locks one of the most important positions on the ground and also frees other positions.

Take Lavonte David for example. David will probably slip inside, forming a hit on two with White. Do not forget to sign Deone Bucannon, independent agent, who can also play indoors.

This already gives the Bucs an excellent depth at the position of the linebacker. If you include Kevin Minter, this only boosts the bet. And even if I would not count on it, Kendell Beckwith's return would be an excellent condition for this unit.

But what's even more intriguing is the linebacker or the EDGE positions. Bowles already uses a hybrid system and can use this current list in different ways. Jason Pierre-Paul and Carl Nassib can get their hands dirty and rushing from a two-point position, which will allow flexibility between the base and the sub-packages on the defense.

If the Bucs go well, JPP and Nassib can get their hands dirty. If the Bucs go to base, they could bring Shaquil Barrett, Devante Bond, or even use Bucannon or David on the outside. Again, JPP and Nassib could also be used here.

All this makes Noah Spence and his $ 1.9 million cap touched consumable. Spence would probably only find playing time on special teams and that is way too much money.

This brings us to the selection of Anthony Nelson, a copy of William Gholston, but much more athletic.

Nelson can slip in and replace Gholston, who was disappointed by his time with the Bucs. It is from $ 3.75 million and just has a bag in the last two years.

Nelson for Gholston.

Cutting Spence and Gholston would free $ 5,023,000 in capital letters, giving the Bucs more money to sign the draft.

The top seven players would put these players in the background: Devin White, Lavonte David, Deone Bucannon, Kevin Minter, Jason Pierre-Paul, Carl Nassib, Barrett, Devante Bond, Riley Bullough and Corey Nelson. The defensive line would consist of Vita Vea, Gerald McCoy, Beau Allen, Anthony Nelson, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Stevie Tu'ikolovatu and an occasional JPP / Nassib exchange.

This gives the Bucs plenty of play, depth and body leaders for the special teams while reducing fat.

Now they have about $ 340 K remains after the signing of the class project and there is still work to be done.

Too many quarterbacks

At present, Tampa Bay has four quarterbacks, two of whom have never taken a regular season regular season in the NFL.

These two quarters – Ryan Griffin and Joe Callahan – also have a combined $ 1.45 million against the cap.

Cutting these two players – or a combination of these and Blaine Gabbert – would give the Bucs enough money to complete the roster of 53 players.

Bruce Arians has been known to carry three quarters during the season, but common sense would say that keeping McCoy on a quarter who has never set foot on the field is the best decision.

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As a reminder, the Bucs did a great job of implementing the 2019 project. The players they chose not only met the needs, but also offered franchisees options for managing the alignment, especially keeping McCoy.

Most of the released players will be traded with a younger and cheaper recruit that the coaching staff has manually selected as theirs.

This also marks the official start of the Bruce Arians era. He brings players who match what he wants to do and chases those who do not.

The Bucs should sign an extra couple of players to reach 53 players, but they can do it while keeping some money. Thanks to the directory management tool from spotrac.com, you can get a good picture of what I'm talking about here.

If this was the plan forever, then Jason Licht, Arians and Bowles all deserve major improvements to play the long game.

I'm sure Gerald McCoy is nice too.