The Cleveland Browns have already made themselves one of the best, if not the best team in the AFC North with their infusions of talent. They also have a quarterback who had a heck of a rookie campaign, even if it wasn't all 16 games. Now, the team is rumored to be going full steam ahead in an attempt to acquire Tampa Bay Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

McCoy would be a nice crowning jewel for the Browns, even if the veteran has seen his dominance on the football field diminish a bit in the last few seasons.

Money is the issue

Cleveland general manager John Dorsey signaled the Browns might be going after a defensive tackle when the team didn't draft one.

The Akron Beacon Journal claims they've been told by people close to Dorsey that if the team does acquire a starting defensive tackle between now and the start of the season, it's likely going to be Gerald McCoy.

The Bucs are also said to be looking to find a taker. That's because McCoy has a contract that is a bit of an albatross. The defensive tackle is slated to make around $13 million this season. He'll make a little bit less than that annually in 2020 and 2021.

There are few teams that are willing to pay that kind of money to a defensive tackle that amassed just 28 tackles and six sacks. That's a pretty big drop from 2018 when he was definitely starting to show his age. When the Bucs signed McCoy to that contract, they were signing a player that has been with the team for his entire career.

Tampa is cash strapped and the Cleveland Browns look like a team that might be able to make a deal. It's also possible that the Browns are looking to see if the Bucs might just release Gerald McCoy. That could be the reason a deal hasn't been reached yet.

McCoy thinks he's moving on

According to Pro Football Talk, the Bucs have sent enough signals to the defensive tackle that they want him gone.

While he has said that he will be playing during the 2019 season, he doesn't think it's going to be in Tampa.

“I don’t know. We’ll see,” McCoy said. “Fans know I love them. I’ll be on the field at some point.”

While he's talking about wanting to play and talking about not knowing if he will be in Tampa, McCoy has been skipping voluntary workouts.

While there are a lot of veterans who want a bit more time between the end of last season and the start of the next one, there are a few people who think he should show up to camp and force Tampa Bay's hand. That could lead to the Cleveland Browns acquiring Gerald McCoy, who appears to be their top target now that the draft is over.
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