Gerald McCoy trade to Raiders offered up as a possibility

Even I think this is a bit out there.

Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has been named as a potential trade candidate for Tampa Bay to ship to Oakland. This comes courtesy of ESPN’s Mike Sando via 247 Sports.

In the ESPN Insider report, Sando suggests there are trades he’s heard rumblings on through NFL executive channels — one of which trades Tampa Bay’s All-Pro defensive tackle for the Raiders’ second round pick.

4. The Oakland Raiders send a 2018 second-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for DT Gerald McCoy.

Defensive tackle is a big question mark for the Raiders. McCoy, who turned 30 last month, remains a front-line player at the position. He is signed through 2020, with base salaries between $10 million and $13 million, and only $500,000 of proration remaining, all in 2018.

Tampa Bay could use its early picks to revamp its defensive line, with an emphasis on outside rushers. There was some question among execs whether McCoy would command a second-round pick at age 30 and whether the Buccaneers could comfortably part with him.

Buffalo could be another logical destination for McCoy. Tampa Bay could conceivably ask for defensive end Jerry Hughes as part of its return for McCoy. Hughes is scheduled to earn $7.35 million in salary and bonuses for each of the next two seasons. Sending receiver DeSean Jackson to Kansas City for Dee Ford was another suggested trade to help the Bucs’ pass rush, despite doubts over whether the Chiefs would be interested in Jackson at this stage.

The interesting thing here is that Sando is not to throw things out there with no background to what he’s saying. As part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, Sando is well-connected within league circles. But only a second round pick?

Regardless of its truth, the report made its way to McCoy who responded on Twitter with the following:

We have to take this for what it is at the moment and that is that this is merely a rumor. However, with his current contract being that there is no real commitment from the team after this season financially, it’s easy to target McCoy in trade talks.