Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Predicting team awards for 2019 season
By Cory Kinnan
Newcomer with the biggest impact: EDGE Shaquil Barrett
Giving the EDGE to Shaq Barrett over Ndamukong Suh for the Newcomer of the year award for the Buccaneers due to the game-changing nature of edge rushers compared to the production of defensive tackles in years past; besides, there is not much to indicate a 32 year old defensive tackle will now double his production because of a change of scenery.
Barrett on the other hand, is just 27 years old and is entering into a situation where he will see the most playing time he has ever seen in his career. In his rotational role with the Denver Broncos, Barrett thrived, recording a career total of 14 sacks over the past four years. However, Barrett has been unable to get out of the shadow of pass rushers such as Von Miller, Demarcus Ware, Elvis Dumervil, and Bradley Chubb.
Now in Tampa Bay Barrett automatically jumps to the top of the depth chart with the neck injury to Jason Pierre-Paul which will sideline him until at least October. Barrett is an analytics darling, graded highly by Pro Football Focus (subscription required) over the past three seasons, and hopes the increase in playing time will lead to a leap in production.
With the injury to Pierre-Paul and the inconsistency of Noah Spence off the edge, the Buccaneers will need to rely heavily on Barrett, along with Carl Nassib and rookie Anthony Nelson. Tampa Bay may give Barrett the opportunity to record double-digit sacks for the first time in his career, and that would be more than enough to net him the Newcomer of the Year award.