After starting the season on a torrid pace, Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaq Barrett has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month.
The entire community of Tampa Bay and fans of the Buccaneers if any other outcome would have happened, but save your torches and pitchforks for another time. Outside linebacker Shaq Barrett has been named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September as he is already just one sack away from reaching double-digits already through just four games.
Barrett is tied for the highest graded player on the Bucs’ roster with wide receiver Chris Godwin according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and giving him this NFC award was a no-brainer from the league. Through the first quarter of the season, Barrett has already tallied nine sacks, ten hits on opposing quarterbacks, seven tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two passes defended, and even an interception.
After signing a one year deal with the Bucs this offseason for $4 million, Barrett has already outplayed that deal and is on his way to becoming a very rich man in the 2020 offseason. With the departure of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and the neck injury to Jason Pierre-Paul, it was wondered where the pass rush would come from for this Bucs’ defense; this is no longer an issue.
The first year Buc is well on his way to breaking Warren Sapp’s franchise record for sacks in a single season, and is even on pace to shatter the NFL record as well. For a guy like Barrett who had only 14 career sacks in his first four seasons as a member of the Denver Broncos, buried behind the likes of Von Miller, Demarcus Ware, and Elvis Dumervil throughout his career, this must feel liberating to bet on yourself this offseason and win.
Currently on pace for 36 sacks this season, it is a safe bet that Shaq Barrett will begin to slow down, but do not tell him that. After leading the league in sacks through the first four games of the season, Barrett has rightfully won this NFC Defensive Player of the Month award for the month of September.