The Carolina Panthers were able to come to terms on a one-year deal with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. It appears his reasoning for signing with Carolina was fueled by high expectations for the 2019 NFL season.
There had been plenty of speculation regarding where McCoy would sign this offseason since there were no shortage of teams interested in his services.
According to ESPN's Field Yates, he feels the Panthers give him the best chance to compete for a championship:
“The reason I'm here is I'm quoted as saying I want to play for a contender. Every ounce of me feels this is a contender.”
McCoy's comments are certainly telling of how he feels about Carolina's chances. The Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens were also among the potential suitors looking to acquire his services. No team has generated more hype than the Browns this offseason with their influx of talent.
Meanwhile, the Ravens have built on their playoff run by bolstering their defense with the addition of safety Earl Thomas. Regardless, none of that was enough to convince McCoy otherwise.
Although the Panthers are coming off a disappointing 2018 campaign, there is still plenty of optimism heading into the 2019 NFL season. McCoy has squared off against Carolina enough times to know what they are capable of after spending nine seasons in the NFC South with Tampa Bay.
The veteran will fill a much-needed void up front as the anchor of the defense moving forward. It will be interesting to see if McCoy was right to trust his instinct.
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