Buccaneers sign Ndamukong Suh: Grade, reaction, analysis
After cutting Gerald McCoy on Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have now signed Ndamukong Suh.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the inevitable move to cut six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy on Monday. On Tuesday they made a quick move to replace McCoy, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter and others reporting the Buccaneers are closing in on a one-year deal with Ndamukong Suh.
Suh spent the 2018 season with the Los Angeles Rams, with 4.5 sacks , 59 total tackles and 19 quarterback hits during the regular season. During the Rams’ run to the Super Bowl he had 20 total tackles 1.5 sacks with seven quarterback pressures over the two games entering the Super Bowl.
Contract Details
As mentioned, according to Schefter and others, it’s a one-year deal for Suh in Tampa Bay. Financial terms aren’t out yet, but it’s safe to say Suh will be making less than the $13 million McCoy was due to make this season.
Pro Football Talk speculated on how much Suh’s deal will be worth.
What's the over-under on the value of the Suh deal with Tampa? $10 million?
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 21, 2019
Thomas Bassinger of the Tampa Bay Times was on the same wave length, somewhere in neighborhood of $10 million for Suh.
If the #Bucs sign Ndamukong Suh, expect terms to look something like one season at $10 million. Tampa Bay would save about $3 million by basically swapping Gerald McCoy for Suh.
— Thomas Bassinger (@tometrics) May 20, 2019
National Reaction
ESPN Stats and Info shows how Tampa Bay has swapped the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft for the No. 2 pick.
The Bucs have replaced the 3rd overall pick from 2010 with the 2nd overall pick from 2010.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 21, 2019
According to @AdamSchefter , Tampa Bay is expected to sign Ndamukong Suh a day after releasing Gerald McCoy. The two rank 3rd and 4th in sacks by DTs since entering the NFL in 2010. pic.twitter.com/XLJaQqd1Z6
NFL business insider Andrew Brandt points out how Suh will add to his substantial career earnings.
When Ndamukong Suh signs with the @Buccaneers he will add to career earnings of $139 million. The only active non-QB who has made more is Larry Fitzgerald ($163 million). Business of Football Hall of Famers.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) May 21, 2019
Fantasy Data shows how productive and durable Suh has been in his career. The only two games he has missed in his career came via a two-game suspension in 2011 with the Detroit Lions.
Ndamukong Suh is signing with the Buccaneers.
— FantasyData (@FantasyDataNFL) May 21, 2019
Since being drafted in 2010, Suh has the 7th most QB hits at 166.
The only games he's missed in his 9 year career was in 2011 when he was suspended for two games. pic.twitter.com/Z9HBBQmzCz
Pro Football Focus offers how consistently they’ve graded Suh over the years.
Ndamukong Suh has generated 490 career QB pressures and 309 defensive stops in his 9-year career, playing 800+ snaps in each season to date. pic.twitter.com/X8t397yXaP
— PFF (@PFF) May 21, 2019
New Buccaneers DI Ndamukong Suh has put forth four consecutive seasons of 80.0+ grades including the second-highest grade of his career last season with the Rams. https://t.co/kYFteDrSRW
— PFF (@PFF) May 21, 2019
C+. . DT. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. NDAMUKONG SUH
Leaving aside their PFF grades in 2018, McCoy has outproduced Suh as a pass rusher over the last two seasons. Suh is also a year older, despite being in the same draft class.
Related Story. 5 teams that should sign Gerald McCoy. light
The Buccaneers should be trying to get younger, and they have some young players on the defensive side of the ball that need to be cultivated (2018 first-round pick Vita Vea, in particular). Signing Suh was a well-placed win-now move for the Rams a year ago. But even amid higher expectations with Bruce Arians as head coach, Tampa Bay is not in the same place as a contender.