Buccaneers, Jason Pierre-Paul agree to restructure contract

After the emergence of Shaquil Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul has agreed to restructure his contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul have agreed to restructure his contract, clearing $4 million in salary cap for the pewter and red. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Pierre-Paul has agreed to a restructuring that would end his deal at the end of this season and lowers his base salary to $5 million instead of his scheduled $10.5 million.

The injured defensive end still has the ability to earn back up to his $10.5 million if he meets certain incentives once he returns to the field, but again, his contract is now set to expire at the end of the 2019 season instead of the 2020 season.

Pierre-Paul is listed on Non-Football Injury list for the Buccaneers after breaking a vertebrae in his neck this Spring in a car accident. While many thought the Bucs would struggle to get a pass rush this season, the opposite has been true as their front five have put a world of hurt on opposing quarterbacks.

The emergence of Shaquil Barrett and Carl Nassib more than likely gave the Buccaneers the opportunity to give JPP an ultimatum to restructure or they have the flexibility to cut bait now. Instead, the team leader in sacks from a year ago realizes he has become expendable, and in order to retain a job, agreed to his new base salary; a win-win situation for both sides.

If this deal is any indication, the Buccaneers seem highly motivated to retain both Barrett and Nassib past this season by making Pierre-Paul a free agent after this season. As for JPP, he has agreed to stay in Tampa on a reduced cost, then will look for his next venture when free agency opens next Spring.