4 Buccaneers well on their way to massive pay day

OLB Carl Nassib

Barrett’s running mate, Carl Nassib is also in need of a new contract after this season, and while he will be significantly less expensive than Barrett, he will still demand over $10 million per year. A team captain in his second year in Tampa, Nassib has looked like an absolute steal on the waiver wire a year ago and is well respected by his teammates.

While Nassib has not been as flashy as Barrett this season, he and defensive tackle Vita Vea have been a significant part of the success of the defensive front for the Buccaneers by being exactly where they need to be. Nassib has graded out in the green, with a grade of 66 according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), exemplifying that while he may not show up in the box score, he is excelling at his job.

Thus far through the season, Nassib has tallied one sack, one tackle for loss, two hits on the quarterback, six solo tackles, and one fumble recovery. Nassib is the jelly to Barrett’s peanut butter, and a ton of Barrett’s success can be attributed to Nassib’s ability to flush pressure directly into the arms of the league’s sack leader.

It is not unlikely to see Nassib get the money that was freed up from JPP’s restructure, giving him right around $12 million annually.