58 Shaquil Barrett LB

The Bucs are using their franchise tag on Barrett, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Barrett came over from Denver last offseason and gave the Bucs a fantastic return on a one-year, $5 million contract, leading the NFL in both sacks (19.5) and QB hits (37). A blitz-heavy scheme helped create many of those opportunities, but the extent of his production means it would be foolish to dismiss the 26-year-old pass rusher as a one-year wonder. The Bucs will try to work out a long-term contract with Barrett, while quarterback Jameis Winston likely will be allowed to test the open market. The option to use both a franchise tag and a transition tag no longer exists after the NFL and NFLPA finished a new collective bargaining agreement over the weekend.

Barrett may receive the Buccaneers' franchise tag this offseason, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Tampa Bay got a massive return on Barrett's one-year, $5 million contract, with the 27-year-old leading the NFL in both sacks (19.5) and quarterback hits (37) while also ranking third in forced fumbles (six). Barrett managed just 14 sacks in 61 games with the Broncos prior to 2019, but he shouldn't be dismissed as a one-year wonder when the year in question was so dominant. The Bucs likely will use their franchise tag on the star pass rusher if a long-term contract isn't completed within the next couple weeks, though quarterback Jameis Winston also looms as a candidate for the tag. Because it's the final year of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams are allowed to use a franchise tag for one player and a transition tag for another, rather than being forced to choose between the two.

Barrett recorded six solo tackles and three sacks during Sunday's 28-22 overtime loss to the Falcons.

Barrett's destructive three-sack finale makes him the first Buccaneer to ever conclude the regular season as the NFL leader in sacks. In his first season with Tampa Bay, Barret also managed to surpass Warren Sapp's previous franchise record of 16.5 sacks. Barrett wraps up his record-breaking 2019 campaign with 58 tackles (45 solo), 19.5 sacks, two defended passes, one interception and six forced fumbles across 16 contests. He'll reprise his role as a leader in Tampa Bay's defense in 2020.

Barrett made two tackles (one solo) in Saturday's 23-20 loss to the Texans.

The game marked Barrett's first without a sack in five contests and his lowest tackle total since Week 11. He'll look to break the Buccanneers' franchise sack mark Week 17 against the Falcons.

Barrett notched five tackles (four solo) and one sack during Sunday's 38-17 win over the Lions.

Barrett has now tied Tampa Bay's single-season franchise record of 16.5 sacks, and if he can hold on to his current spot atop the league, he'll become the first Buccaneer to ever pace the NFL in sacks. The veteran defensive end also has 50 tackles (38 solo), two defended passes, one interception and six forced fumbles to his name through 14 contests. He'll look to keep up his stellar play against the Texans in Week 16.

Barrett had seven tackles (five solo) and a half-sack during Sunday's 38-35 win over Indianapolis.

Barrett only managed the partial sack but spent plenty of time in the backfield Sunday, totaling three quarterback hits on Jacoby Brissett. The veteran defensive end continues to lead the NFL with 15 sacks and also has 45 tackles (33 solo), one interception and six forced fumbles.

Barrett had three tackles (two solo), to sacks and a forced fumble in Sunday's win over Jacksonville.

Barrett played only 47 offensive snaps -- his second-lowest total of the season -- but still managed to produce his third multi-sack game of the season. The 27-year-old has 38 tackles (28 solo), six forced fumbles, one interception and a league-leading 14.5 sacks through 12 games.

Barrett recorded four tackles (two solo), a sack and a forced fumble in Sunday's 35-22 win over the Falcons.

Barrett is up to 12.5 sacks and five forced fumbles on the year and also has an interception. He has not gone more than two games without a sack this season.

Barrett was credited with three tackles (three solo) and a sack in Sunday's win over the Cardinals.

The 26-year-old has been enjoying the best season of his career so far, racking up 31 tackles and a whopping 11.5 sacks through the first nine games. Barrett will look to keep his phenomenal season going next week when he and the Buccaneers take on Drew Brees and the potent Saints offense.

Barrett was credited with one tackle, a half-sack and two quarterback hits overall in the Buccaneers' 40-34 overtime loss to the Seahawks on Sunday.

Barrett was notably quiet throughout most of the contest despite logging 74 snaps overall, but he did manage to get in the sack column for the second straight game. The offseason acquisition is now up to 10.5 sacks on the campaign, and his ability to get to the quarterback has also played a part in the 26-year-old equaling a career best with four forced fumbles.

Barrett recorded four solo tackles and a strip-sack in Sunday's 27-23 loss to the Titans.

The Buccaneers weren't able to jump on the fumble Barrett forced by taking down Ryan Tannehill, but that play marked his 10th sack of the season, topping his marks from the previous three years combined. Although Barrett has simmered down since exploding for nine sacks over the first four contests, he still has a solid shot at Defensive Player of the Year if he can log a few more signature performances.

Barrett (oblique) is active for Sunday's game against the Panthers in London, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

As anticipated, Barrett will get the green light to play Week 6, even though the oblique injury prevented him from practicing Wednesday and Thursday and limited his activity Friday. The NFL's sack leader with nine through five games, Barrett has enjoyed a breakout season that should earn him a healthy payday in free agency next spring.

Barrett (oblique) is in line to play Sunday against the Panthers in London, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Barrett leads the NFL with nine sacks, so his presence in London is key for the Buccaneers defense.

Barrett has an oblique injury and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers in London, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Barrett was clear of the injury report until Friday when he was listed as a limited participant. The 26-year-old has enjoyed a dominant start to the season with nine sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception through five games, so he would be a significant loss for the Buccaneers if he can't suit up.

Barrett (groin) won't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game versus the Saints.

The Buccaneers' most disruptive defensive asset was hampered by a groin injury during Wednesday's and Thursday's practices, but it appears that was simply a precautionary measure as he logged a full practice Friday and will play Sunday. Barrett has nine sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception through four games, and he'll look to continue his tear against Teddy Bridgewater and the Saints.

Barrett (groin) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Barrett wasn't able to practice to begin the week Wednesday, but he's now resumed working in a limited capacity. It's possible the Buccaneers are taking a cautious approach to Barrett's recovery, considering that he's already recorded nine sacks in four contests, solidifying himself as a pillar of the team's defense. Friday's final injury report of the week will further illuminate Barrett's chances of suiting up versus New Orleans on Sunday.

Barrett (groin) didn't participate in Wednesday's practice, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Barrett has forced himself into the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year after an explosive first quarter of the season in which he recorded nine sacks, two pass breakups, three forced fumbles and an interception. Being added to the injury report Wednesday puts his chances of playing Sunday versus the Saints in jeopardy, though. Barrett still has two more practices to get back onto the field before that contest. While Tampa Bay has no true replacement for him, Anthony Nelson figures to fill in at outside linebacker if Barrett can't go.

Barrett finished with four tackles (three solo), including 1.5 for loss, one sack, one interception and another pass defensed in the Buccaneers' 55-40 win over the Rams on Sunday.

With a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in Aaron Donald on the opposite sideline, Barrett continued the early push of his own candidacy for the award Sunday with yet another impactful performance. The sixth-year linebacker was once again deployed as a disruptive force and snagged his first interception of the season on an athletic play late in the third quarter inside Tampa territory. He then helped put the exclamation point on the win via a fumble-causing sack of Jared Goff with 1:06 remaining and the Buccaneers hanging on to an eight-point lead, with Ndamukong Suh picking up the loose ball and rumbling 55 yards for a game-clinching fumble return touchdown. Barrett now has nine sacks on the campaign and has become an elite IDP asset based on the manner in which he's been utilized in coordinator Todd Bowles' 3-4 scheme. He'll look to continue his elite level of play against the Saints in a Week 5 divisional clash.

Barrett made four sacks and forced two fumbles in Sunday's loss to the Giants.

Barrett is now out of the shadow of Von Miller in Denver, and he's carving out his own success in Tampa Bay. Through three games, the 26-year-old has accumulated a league-high eight sacks with the Browns' Myles Garrett (six) trailing in second. Barrett's pace should slow down at some point, but he'll look to keep it up in Week 4 versus the Rams and Jared Goff, who has been dropped six times so far.

Barrett (groin) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Barrett was limited Wednesday due to a groin injury, but he appears back to full health. The 26-year-old has compiled four sacks in just two games and will look to keep up his momentum Sunday versus the Giants.