The Case For Tagging Shaq Barrett
March 2nd, 2021
Another tag?
There is no question that the Bucs are a “now” team.
Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians has yet to commit to 2022, though Joe suspects Arians will be around as long as he has park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, trophy-throwing Bucs Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
The Bucs have discussed extending Brady’s contract, but nothing has been finalized. And of course, Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul and possibly Lavonte David won’t be around for much longer, either.
Given this information, Ben Rolfe of Pro Football Network thinks rather than coughing up a ton of Team Glazer loot to Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett, tag him again.
It may come down to pay me now or pay me (dearly) later, Rolfe points out,
After 19.5 sacks in 2019, Barrett managed just 8 sacks in 2020. However, he managed to rack up an impressive 42 pressures and was integral to the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl victory. The Buccaneers’ issue is that Barrett will be looking to be paid like a top-tier defensive end.
Given he has just one double-digit sack season, the Buccaneers may be hesitant to commit. Therefore, they could give him the franchise tag again in 2021 to buy more time.
With Tom Brady having one year left on his deal, that would be perfect for the Buccaneers if they are looking to go again in 2021. They can keep their defensive line intact without having to commit to Barrett beyond the life of Brady’s deal. Doing so will be costly at around $19 million, but it could be a sensible strategy long-term.
Now this isn’t a bad way of thinking. If Shaq has a fantastic season again, then at that point you pay him as a top-tier edge rusher. If you tag Shaq a second consecutive time season, at least you have him locked in (provided his agent, oily Drew Rosenhaus, doesn’t have him sit out).
Yeah, $19 million isn’t cheap. Especially when the nickels are tight. But it sure beats having your most important free agent pull a Michael Bennett II.
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:03 am
A strong case can be made to tag any of the Big 3.
The fact is Barrett is less likely loyal to the Bucs than the other two who grew professionally up as Bucs.
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:26 am
It is a very good argument. Besides, what is the real difference between $15-$16MM on a long term deal and $19MM when it comes to a cap of $183MM+/-?? And I agree with Cobra; Shaq is the likely to be the least loyal of the bunch. Maybe this improves the chances of bringing them all back
I would add, if this ends up being the plan, the Bucs must draft a OLB with that #32 pick so he has a year to develop.
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:33 am
Pay the man. He’s a proven edge rusher. Lock him up. Our defense is our future and will make us competitive beyond Brady.
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:40 am
Shaq will probably be our most pursued free agent, so we may as well get it over with, especially with the deal that Watt just signed.
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:47 am
Hate to say it, but have to let him walk. CG as well.
Licht will need to work some magic and bring in a lot of guys with potential to replace him and sort it out.
SB teams have to let big names walk and develop new ones.
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:50 am
Nathen Says:
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:33 am
Pay the man. He’s a proven edge rusher. Lock him up. Our defense is our future and will make us competitive beyond Brady.
i agree…pay the man…
he’s been a great teammate and he’s produced…why BS him….
sign shaq…tag godwin…
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:53 am
Pay him 17 million this year, then increase by one million per year for 5 years. It averages out to top tier money and is less than the tag this year. Guarantee half the contract value.
March 2nd, 2021 at 9:01 am
Use the tag and let someone else over pay him AND receive 2 first round pics.
Damn people, be realistic.
We need to start building now not later.
We can do it without him.
March 2nd, 2021 at 9:15 am
Keep the front 7 intact, mess with that and you mess with another Super Bowl run. GO BUCS!!!!
March 2nd, 2021 at 9:15 am
Everyone (including Joe) wants to do Licht’s job. Advice abounds. Let him earn his salary. He will handle it. And offend some fans. That’s the nature of the (cap issue) beast.
March 2nd, 2021 at 9:16 am
We could use the transition tag on Shaq…..and it’s possible we could receive draft picks if he is taken by another team. It’s tricky.
It seems to me that Godwin would be the most likely of the two to negotiate a long term somewhat-friendly contract….so Shaq is the one to tag.
The question remains, can we do both?
March 2nd, 2021 at 9:17 am
– Barrett .. tag him and work out a long term deal (or not)
– Godwin .. gone, he’s not worth (to us) the 15m he’ll get
– David .. gone .. he’s not worth (to us) the 15m he’ll get
March 2nd, 2021 at 9:49 am
I wholeheartedly agree. It really is that simple. Too many people are locked in to “stats” and what the numbers look like. Forget that and look at the tape on how that entire defense looked when they were all healthy in the playoffs.
That defense put on the greatest defensive performance in Buccaneers history in the most important game in Buccaneers history. Yes, this Super Bowl was more important than 2002. If the Bucs lost against the Chiefs they would have been jeered all off-season for trying to win with a 43 year old QB.
The Bucs defense held the Chiefs to 9 points and the only touchdown the Chiefs had in Tampa is when their plane landed at TIA.
The Bucs have an opportunity to win another one. Why would anyone want to mess with that?
March 2nd, 2021 at 9:49 am
Hold out till the last possible second to tag Shaq. Definitely top 10 talent but not as good as in 2019. He was disappointing during the last stretch of the regular season before coming on strong during the post season.
March 2nd, 2021 at 10:01 am
If they tag him at $19mil, surely that is more than if he gets $20-21mil in a taxed state.
March 2nd, 2021 at 10:21 am
Listen to this folks make me wanna vomit.
Shaq has only been a buc 2 yrs
Godwin 4
David 9
And this folks believe shaq has outperformed other players in the team. And with 2 yrs he should be in the others out.
813bucboi Says:
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:50 am
Nathen Says:
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:33 am
Pay the man. He’s a proven edge rusher. Lock him up. Our defense is our future and will make us competitive beyond Brady.
i agree…pay the man…
he’s been a great teammate and he’s produced…why BS him….
sign shaq…tag godwin…
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 2nd, 2021 at 10:40 am
Tagging God instead is 3 mil cheaper, and we need every dollar we can get.
March 2nd, 2021 at 10:46 am
Nope no tag he’s way more expensive on the tag.
March 2nd, 2021 at 10:47 am
Let Barrett nose around his worth in the tampering period, then make a decision on tagging him.
While edge guys are valuable and expensive, how many teams can pay him a ton of $$$ with a declined cap?
And we don’t even know what the tag number is…
March 2nd, 2021 at 10:53 am
If you’re going to “break the bank” on an edge, why not go after Bud Dupree?
March 2nd, 2021 at 11:00 am
There has to be away for us to keep most of these guys together for another year or two, but every good thing must come to an end eventually. We have to get some guys we can turn into starters in the draft, to alleviate some cap space. Were not used to having this many people we want to keep in Tampa, hopefully this trends continues for some time.
March 2nd, 2021 at 11:37 am
D-Rome Says:
March 2nd, 2021 at 9:49 am
Keep the front 7 intact, mess with that and you mess with another Super Bowl run. GO BUCS!!!!
“I wholeheartedly agree. It really is that simple. Too many people are locked in to “stats” and what the numbers look like. Forget that and look at the tape on how that entire defense looked when they were all healthy in the playoffs”
AMEN D-Rome!!
Front 7 is the foundation of the World Championship Bucs and in 2021 again. GO BUCS!!!!
March 2nd, 2021 at 11:48 am
99% certain Shaq would hold out if you tag him a second time … and he should. This will likely be his only one big deal.
March 2nd, 2021 at 1:22 pm
Exactly shaq isn’t signing a tag he wants to get paid as this will be his only shot to get a big deal because of his age, they will tag godwin and hopefully work out a long term deal for shaq
March 2nd, 2021 at 4:26 pm
I hate the tags. Man up and pay the guy or let him go. You owe him that.
March 2nd, 2021 at 5:09 pm
Just from the headline before I read this, the ONLY reason you Tag Barret is to piss him off, so he signs somewhere else the 2022 season. Soo…. That’s when you are then expecting he is passed the point of a long term deal?
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:06 pm
Pay Shaq and Succop
Hometown discount for LVD
Let Godwin walk because you can”t afford him/easiest to replace
Suh and Gronk at the right price only
Thank you AB and Fournette. Good luck with your new team and getting paid.
March 2nd, 2021 at 8:35 pm
Lock him up for sure!!! JPP has 1 year left and is 32. Imagine a world where shaq leaves and JPP gets banged up. #nightmares!!! Some might not like it but shaq IS the most important FA to bring back. I think David and Godwin would be more likely to be loyal to their team. If it seems Shaq is about to leave why not tag him again and try to work something out long term again.