© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsShaq Barrett will turn 29 later this year and has a prime opportunity to secure a lucrative long-term deal now.
The top remaining piece of the Buccaneers' free agency puzzle would stand to have a big market, were he to be unsigned by March 15. But the Super Bowl champions hope to keep Shaquil Barrett from making it to free agency.
Bucs brass and Barrett have entered extension discussions, according to SI.com's Albert Breer (on Twitter). The Bucs chose Chris Godwin over Barrett for their franchise tag and just agreed to terms with Lavonte David. They have less than a week to negotiate exclusively with their top pass rusher.
As a free agent in 2019, Barrett received tepid interest. Offers came only from the Bucs and Bengals, and Barrett signed a one-year, $4 million pact with Tampa Bay. The Bucs tagged him last year, following his franchise-record-setting 19.5-sack season. The former Broncos UDFA expressed interest in cashing in this year. Barrett will turn 29 later this year and has a prime opportunity to secure a lucrative long-term deal now, especially considering how much his postseason dominance helped Tampa Bay win the Super Bowl.
GM Jason Licht indicated recently that he wants Barrett back but sounded like it was not a lock that he would return. The Bucs were sitting nearly $5 million over the projected $180 million cap floor before the David deal; they will need to do extensive work in order to re-sign Barrett and keep other members from the Ndamukong Suh-Rob Gronkowski-Antonio Brown-Leonard Fournette contingent. Licht has also said he can envision UFA-to-be Blaine Gabbert succeeding Tom Brady one day. Brady, however, is discussing yet another extension. That would help free up funds.
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