Tampa Bay Buccaneers: What Shaq Barrett’s extension means
Great news Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans. Shaq Barrett is back.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Drew Rosenhaus, the agent of Shaquil Barrett, tells them that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reached an agreement with Barrett for a four-year deal worth $72 million, $36 million of which is fully guaranteed. Not exactly a bargain, but fully worth it nonetheless.
Pass rushers are a premium position in the NFL, and Super Bowl LV was a prime example of that when Barrett, along with fellow re-signee Lavonte David amongst others on the defense, tortured Patrick Mahomes and the high powered Kansas City Chiefs offense en route to the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy.
What Barrett being back means is, the Buccaneers might be getting a third.
Simply put, if Tom Brady is your quarterback, you always have a chance at a Super Bowl. Luckily for the Buccaneers, they benefit from this luxury. Football is a team game though. Brady helps a lot but so does him having people to throw to as well as a defense to support them, which he understands hence his constant contract restructures. Coming into the offseason, Barrett, David, and slot receiver-extraordinaire Chris Godwin were the top three pending free agents on the priority list for General Manager Jason Licht and company.
With Godwin franchise tagged, David resigned and now today’s Schefty-bomb that is the news of Barrett being brought back, the Buccaneers have been able to retain their holy trinity of expired contracts, really without even breaking a sweat. It’s just further proof that this is the best front office
in football right now, and further ammo in the argument that the Buccaneers should once again be not just NFC, but Super Bowl favorites in 2021. The Drew Brees retirement also helps the Bucs’ cause, not that he mattered come playoff time anyway last season, but we digress.
light. Related Story. More on Brees retirement
The Buccaneers are not going anywhere, and their offseason has already been a success. Once seen as a potential factor of stress for fans, now has become a reason to fire up the boats for another parade.
There are still MANY dominos left to fall for the NFL offseason, especially for the Buccaneers. Regardless of what else happens this offseason though, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are clear Super Bowl favorites in 2021 and beyond.