In want of retaining a number of key members of their 2023 group, the Buccaneers have a couple of possible wage cap casualties. A type of has lengthy been believed to be exterior linebacker Shaquil Barrett, and he’s certainly set to see his time in Tampa Bay come to an finish.
The Buccaneers will release Barrett, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The 2-time Tremendous Bowl winner was owed an possibility bonus of $15.04M on the fifth day of the brand new league 12 months. Moderately than absorbing that cap cost, Tampa Bay will reduce bait after Barrett’s five-year run with the group.
This transfer will come within the type of a post-June 1 launch, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times confirms. Taking that route will enable the group to unfold out Barrett’s $26.67M useless cap determine throughout two seasons. The Bucs might be hit with $9.27M in useless cash in 2024 and $17.4M subsequent 12 months. They’ll save $4.9M in cap area for this season, however solely after June 1.
Barrett not too long ago admitted he was likely to be released this offseason given his burdensome cap hit. The 31-year-old was owed $17M in 2024 and he was attributable to carry a cap hit of $14.19M, together with a cost of $29.43M in a void 12 months in 2025. Certainly one of many Bucs veterans to have their contracts restructured in recent times, Barrett’s launch might be a part of the method of Tampa Bay clearing out monetary wiggle room within the post-Tom Brady period. The modest cap financial savings won’t be accessible through the opening wave of free company, however it would nonetheless assist because the group goals to retain necessary members of the squad which went to the divisional spherical of the postseason.
Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. are every pending free brokers (though the latter is more likely to obtain the franchise tag). A brand new contract for Mayfield particularly might be an costly precedence, given his success in his debut Tampa season. Barrett, in contrast, delivered underwhelming totals in 2023 regardless of managing to play in 18 mixed common season and playoff video games coming off an Achilles tear the earlier season. The 2-time Professional Bowler posted 4.5 sacks in 2023, after recording three in eight contests the 12 months prior.
These totals mark a stark distinction to Barrett’s 19.5 sacks in 2019. That determine led the league and set a single-season franchise document. The Colorado State product additionally delivered 4 sacks within the 2020 postseason to assist Tampa Bay win the Tremendous Bowl that 12 months; after a 10-sack marketing campaign the next season, although, issues haven’t gone in keeping with plan. Barrett will now flip his consideration to free company within the hopes of regaining his earlier type in a brand new surroundings.
The Buccaneers, in the meantime, will transfer ahead with a reasonable edge contingent together with the likes of Anthony Nelson, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and YaYa Diaby. The latter completed tied for fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Yr voting after he delivered 7.5 sacks in 2023. One other funding alongside the sting through the draft might be in play for Tampa Bay, or the group might dip into the secondary free agent market if ample funds for a Barrett substitute exist. Getting into immediately, the Buccaneers had $43.68M in cap area with a slew of main monetary choices nonetheless to make.