The dollars and cents are in on the Cowboys’ signing of defensive lineman Gerald McCoy. By all accounts, the team is getting a shockingly good deal on the six-time Pro Bowler and the third overall draft pick from 2010.
As ESPN’s Todd Archer reports:
“Gerald McCoy’s contract details, pending a physical: Three years, max of $20.25 million. Signing bonus: $3 million. 2020 base: $2.5 million (fully guaranteed). 2021 base: $5 million ($1.5 million fully guaranteed). 2022 base: $5.25 million. Active roster bonus: Max of $750,000 each season. He can also earn up to $750,000 each season in incentives. An additional $2 million of his 2021 base salary is guaranteed for injury and becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2021 league year.”
Archer later amended his tweet to include $100,000 in annual incentives driving the cost up to $20.55 million.
McCoy will be expected to replace the production of Maliek Collins, the 2016 draft pick who recently signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. Dallas has lost two starters from their defensive line, including DE Robert Quinn who led the squad with 11.5 sacks in 2019.
The newest Cowboys and longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneer turned 32 late last month and comes off a one-year stint with Carolina, where he notched five sacks, seven tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, and was in on 37 tackles over 16 games. It was the first time McCoy played a full season since 2013.
McCoy’s health for the entirety of the 2019 campaign, coincidentally or not, happened to come after the Oklahoma alum made a significant off-the-field lifestyle change.
New Cowboys DT Gerald McCoy became vegan last year in hopes of extending his career. It began after attending the Super Bowl as NFL Man of the Year candidate. “I said to myself, you need to do everything in your power to be able to feel that feeling” of playing in the Super Bowl.
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 18, 2020
Shortly after his release in January, McCoy emphasized his desire to play for a playoff-caliber team in 2020. In his ten NFL seasons, he’s never appeared in a postseason game.
Now he may get a legitimate chance… and if he helps lead them there, the Cowboys may have gotten a legitimate bargain.
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