Early on Monday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers applied the 2020 franchise tag to Shaquil Barrett.
Tampa Bay signed Barrett to a 1 year, $4 million deal in 2019. All Barrett did in his first year in Tampa Bay is set the franchise single season sack record with 19.5, besting Warren Sapp’s 16.5 sack season in 2000. Head coach Bruce Arians has made it clear that keeping last year’s defense in tact is a priority. Applying the franchise tag to Barrett gives the Bucs more flexibility with other key UFA’s like Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul.
The outside linebacker franchise tag will pay Barrett $15.8 million in 2020. Barrett enters his 7th NFL season in 2020, which will be his 2nd with Tampa Bay. Through his first 6 years, Barrett has recorded 33.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, and 1 interception.
