The Buccaneers did a great job keeping almost everybody from last year’s Super Bowl win around for 2021. They used their franchise tag on receiver Chris Godwin, which meant they had to let star pass-rusher Shaq Barrett become a free agent.
Barrett was one of the top players available on the market, but he apparently never considered leaving Tampa too seriously. He said as much in an interview on Good Morning Football on Tuesday (Twitter video link), via Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com.
“It might’ve been true [that I was offered more money elsewhere], but I didn’t listen to anybody else. I didn’t hear no other offers,” Barrett said. “I wanted to make it work down here in Tampa. We’ve got something special going down here, man. And I don’t want to let greed be the reason why I don’t take advantage of this opportunity down here. We’re starting to love Tampa. We love the fan support. And I’m just ready to keep building.”
The former undrafted free agent spent his first five pro seasons with the Broncos, but Tampa became home for him quickly in 2019. “I love my coaches. I love the organization — everything is like a match made in heaven down here, man. And I won’t let trying to get a little more money change that.”
Barrett immediately broke out after signing with the Bucs in 2019, leading the league in sacks that season with 19.5 and becoming a second-team All-Pro. As such, it’s not hard to see why he has such an affinity for the organization.
He played the 2020 season under the franchise tag for $15.8MM, and the team rewarded him back in March by giving him a new contract for four years and $72MM.
A deal where everybody wins!
Cool, sorry but his line:
‘“It might’ve been true [that I was offered more money elsewhere], but I didn’t listen to anybody else. I didn’t hear no other offers,”
Actually meant he heard other offers. Pending the state & taxes, plus roster’s; it very well could have made sense to stay in TB.
He didn’t hear offers but somehow was offered more money from another team…..
I imagine it went something like this…
Barrett – “I want to resign in Tampa”
Agent – “Great, before we do that do you want to look at these offers for more money than Tampa is offering?”
Barrett – “ Nah, I’m good”
Not giving up much at $72 million for four years:
1. Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald: $22.5 million/season
2. New York Jets’ Leonard Williams: $21 million/season
3. Indianapolis Colts’ DeForest Buckner: $21 million/season
4. KC Chiefs’ Chris Jones: $20 million/season
Every defensive lineman after this is paid less.
If he gets injured and loses his spot on the depth chart he will be complaining he never got a fair deal from the Bucs.
One of the biggest mistakes the Broncos made was letting Barrett walk. Maybe he wouldn’t have posted 19.5 sacks, but the guy was really great in his rotational role in Denver. Every snaps he played was quality, certainly more than Shane Ray. I am glad he got his shot, even it was for what would become a super-team in Tampa the next year.