Gerald McCoy thought he was signing with the Baltimore Ravens. That is, until the Carolina Panthers wowed him.

According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton also helped recruit McCoy. Plus, he gets a little payback against the Panthers' NFC South rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who released him on May 20.

ESPN's David Newton substantiated Schefter's tweet on Monday.

McCoy left Baltimore thinking he very well might sign there, sources told Schefter, but Carolina wowed him on his visit and quarterback Cam Newton helped recruit McCoy.

McCoy has been a long-time fan of Newton, saying in 2015 the first pick of the 2011 draft deserved to win the MVP well before the voting was final.

To cap it off, McCoy gets to stay in the NFC South and play against the Bucs (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), who released him and gave his No. 93 to Ndamukong Suh. Tampa Bay and McCoy ‘mutually parted ways' on May 20.

McCoy agreed to a one-year contract with Carolina worth up to $10.25 million, per ESPN's Josina Anderson (via Newton). This includes a $4 million signing bonus.

The Panthers were able to clear $7.5 million in cap space on Saturday with the release of offensive tackle Matt Kalil last March. They also cleared an additional $2 million after wide receiver Torrey Smith agreed to take a pay cut, per Newton.

McCoy's signing comes just several days after he first visited Carolina. He arrived in Charlotte on Thursday and visited until Friday, per ESPN.

McCoy joins a Panthers team making the switch from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4 defensive alignment. He adds beef to a Panthers front line already featuring Pro Bowlers Kawann Short and Dontari Poe.

In the end, Gerald McCoy decided to sign with the Carolina Panthers. What's good news for Ravens fans is good news for Panthers fans.