Gerald McCoy Discusses Bucs’ Chances To Win NFC South

Former Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy admitted he was biased a week ago on his appearance on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football program. Tampa Bay’s first-round pick in 2010 stated that clearly when he was asked to give his assessment of the NFC South and which team would prevail in 2023.

So it was no surprise when he picked his former team to go for the three-peat. The Bucs enter the 2023 season as back-to-back NFC South champions for the first time in franchise history. And the Bucs have only won the division five times with three more division titles in the former NFC Central.

“I’m not going to be biased … of course it’s the Bucs!” McCoy said on GMFB.

Gerald McCoy Has Faith In Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans On Offense

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch//PR

Not only did Gerald McCoy admit his bias towards the Bucs, but the former Oklahoma All-American also gave a vote of confidence in a fellow former Sooners legend.

“I know a lot of people don’t believe in Baker Mayfield, but I believe in Baker Mayfield,” McCoy said. “One, because he’s an Oklahoma Sooner. Baker is a natural-born leader. I know Baker has his ups, he has his downs, but now he’s wearing a Buccaneers uniform. And I have to believe in Baker Mayfield as being the leader of my team in Tampa.”

McCoy then went on to predict another big year for four-time Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans, whom Mayfield will have to rely on.

“Baker is going to have to lean heavily on somebody – I believe it is a very underrated wide receiver in history, and we talked about this yesterday,” McCoy said. “I almost brought him up, but you know what? I said I have to be unbiased on this one. But Mike Evans, man – he’s been a model of consistency 1,000 yards in every season he’s been in NFL.

“They’re going back to a time of what I remember – a time where you didn’t have Tom Brady. Where you have to actually find different ways to try and win instead of saying, ‘Hey, we have No. 12 on our team.” But they’ve got Rachaad White at running back. He made a big jump last year as a rookie. They still have Chris Godwin, but Mike Evans is going to be playing an intricate role in this offense. Man, they are going to have to lean heavily on Mike.”

Gerald McCoy Is Bullish On Bucs Defense Getting The Job Done

Bucs LB Lavonte David and DT Gerald McCoy – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Gerald McCoy ended his analysis on the Bucs’ chances of winning the NFC South with the side of the ball he is most familiar with – defense. The natural starting point for any conversation about Tampa Bay’s defense is of course linebacker Lavonte David. McCoy and David played together for seven years in red and pewter.

“On the defensive side of the ball, one of my favorite players, one of my closest friends, actually my youngest son’s godfather, Lavonte David,” McCoy said. “He just re-signed. He had an opportunity to sign somewhere else. He said, ‘No, I want to finish my career in Tampa.’ He’s been a great leader there. I believe one of the most underrated players – period – since he’s been in the NFL. Just go look at his numbers.

“And you know they have a Devin White (holdout) situation going on down there. He kind of demanded the trade. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”

McCoy then mentioned the trench play, which has a new face in Pittsburgh All-American defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, the team’s first-round pick.

“But they got Calijah Kancey this year,” McCoy said. “In Tampa, the three technique – the under tackle – has been a huge thing. That’s why I had a lot of pressure on me. They brought this guy in this year as their first pick in the first round. You know he’s in the mold of an Aaron Donald, came from the same school. They brought him in to get that pressure up the middle.

“Vita Vea is still there. So they’re going to have to lean heavily on the vets this year, but I still believe that we will take that division. Y’all might not believe it, but I believe it. … Yes, I believe it’s the Bucs. I believe that the best quarterback in the division is [New Orleans Saints’] Derek Carr, but I believe from top to bottom that [Tampa Bay] can get it done.”

Watch Gerald McCoy Talk Bucs On Good Morning Football

Gerald McCoy was recently on the news, appearing on Chris Long’s podcast where he talked about his beef with Bucs Hall of Famer Warren Sapp.

You can watch Gerald McCoy’s analysis on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football by clicking the video below, which will take you to the Good Morning Football YouTube channel: