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Gerald McCoy, Defensive Tackle – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When Gerald McCoy was selected with the 3rd overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, there were immediate comparisons to Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Warren Sapp, and fortunately for both parties, McCoy has lived up to the billing. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive tackle is considered to be the best player in the league at his position, and as a three-technique, he is basically ideal for what the Bucs have chosen to do defensively in recent days.

McCoy has always been fundamentally sound and explosive, but he took his pass-rush ability to a new level in 2013, blazing to 9.5 sacks as an interior lineman and showing off his legendary first step. He isn’t quite as stout in the run game, but given that he isn’t playing the nose the majority of the time, McCoy more than holds his own, and because the game is moving toward the pass, having a big-time pass-rusher up the middle is a luxury that any team would desire.

Edge rushers are almost always going to garner more attention and hype, especially given their lofty sack totals, but McCoy can impact a game on nearly every snap and that is incredibly valuable.