58 Shaquil Barrett OLB

Barrett, a pending unrestricted free agent, may not be able to garner the type of payday he's aiming for through either the franchise tag or a long-term deal with Tampa Bay, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Barrett's situation will be one of the most intriguing to monitor this offseason for a Buccaneers roster that has several big names on the cusp of unrestricted free agency. After breaking out for a career-high 19.5 sacks in 2019, Barrett's sack total fell to eight in 2020 while he played under a $15.8 million franchise tag. Barrett proclaimed he would be returning to the defending champions in the aftermath of Tampa Bay's Super Bowl LV win over the Chiefs, but as Laine notes, there could be some hurdles to clear when it comes to compensation. A second consecutive application of the tag seems unrealistic for Barrett, who would earn a 120 percent raise from last year's salary that would result in a cap hit of $19 million. That would seem to make a multi-year contract the logical alternative, though that too could present some issues for the Buccaneers since the Chargers' Joey Bosa upped the ante for top-shelf edge rushers with the extension he signed last summer that averages $27 million per season.

Barrett, who recorded a sack on his only tackle Sunday during the Buccaneers' 31-9 win over the Chiefs during Super Bowl LV, finished the 2020 regular season with 57 tackles (43 solo), eight sacks, three defensed passes and two forced fumbles across 15 games.

Barrett was never expected to replicate his career-best 19.5-sack effort from 2019, so the fact he took the quarterback down 11.5 fewer times in 2020 -- albeit in one fewer game -- isn't an indication of a substandard performance by any stretch. In fact, Barrett was actually just as effective on the tackle front, and he also was still plenty disruptive as an edge rusher. The 28-year-old had a particularly significant impact in the NFC Championship Game win over the Packers, showing shades of his elite 2019 form by bringing Aaron Rodgers down on three occasions. Barrett played the 2020 season on the franchise tag after he and the Buccaneers were unable to come to terms on a long-term deal last offseason. The two sides could again discuss an extension this offseason, but if a deal can't be reached, Barrett would be a candidate to receive the franchise tag for a second straight year.

Barrett recorded five tackles (four solo), including three sacks, and was credited with an additional quarterback hit during the Buccaneers' 31-26 win over the Packers in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.

Following a league-leading 19.5 sacks in 2019, Barrett recorded a modest eight this past regular season. However, the veteran linebacker flashed dominant form often Sunday, much to the chagrin of Aaron Rodgers. Barrett's trio of sacks were his first since Week 14, a game win in which he'd gotten to the Vikings' Kirk Cousins on a pair of occasions. Barrett's considerable pass-rushing acumen figures to be vitally important to the Buccaneers' chances of slowing down Patrick Mahomes and his potent cache of offensive weaponry during Super Bowl LV on Sunday, Feb. 7.

Barrett was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Carmen Vitali of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Barrett is ready to suit up for Saturday's wild-card matchup against Washington. The linebacker has posted 57 tackles (43 solo), eight sacks and two forced fumbles this season.

Barrett was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday and won't be able to play Sunday against the Falcons, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Barrett is considered a close contact to teammate Devin White, who was revealed to have tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. The edge rusher would still have a chance of suiting up for Tampa Bay's wild-card matchup next weekend, so long as he continues to post negative test results. The Buccaneers have already secured a playoff spot, but any sort of postseason absence from Barrett would undoubtedly be a blow to the NFL's seventh-ranked scoring defense.

Barrett posted four tackles (all solo), including two sacks, and was credited with an additional quarterback hit in the Buccaneers' 26-14 win over the Vikings on Sunday.

Barrett was an integral part of a six-sack tally against Kirk Cousins, giving him five sacks overall in the last five contests. The late-season surge has helped significantly bolster Barret's IDP value, which had arguably been a disappointment during a season-opening eight-game stretch during which he'd garnered a modest three quarterback takedowns. Barrett is also quickly closing on the season-best 58 tackles he recorded in 2019, needing eight more stops over the last three games to establish a new high-water mark.

Barrett tallied three solo tackles, including one sack, an additional quarterback hit and a forced fumble in the Buccaneers' 27-24 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday.

Barrett found a way to churn out a productive IDP stat line despite what was a mostly forgettable day for the Buccaneers defense. The veteran linebacker's forced fumble was particularly timely, as it came when he separated Patrick Mahomes from the ball at Tampa Bay's 15-yard line as the Chiefs appeared on the way to adding to their 17-0 lead. Barrett now has six sacks on the season, a figure that, while still a far cry from the 19.5 he recorded in 2019, does put him into second place on the team behind Jason Pierre-Paul's 8.5.

Barrett recorded three solo tackles -- two for a loss -- and a sack in Sunday's 46-23 win over the Panthers.

Despite the blowout nature of Sunday's game, the Panthers attempted just 28 passes, providing a low ceiling for Barrett. He came through nonetheless, notching his fifth sack of the season. The veteran linebacker is going to fall well short of the 19.5 sacks he piled up in 2019, but he has a good chance to hit double digits once again.

Barrett (shoulder) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Barrett was added to the injury report Wednesday as a limited participant, but he was able to finish the week with a full practice. The 27-year-old broke a four-game sack-less streak in Week 9 and has four sacks in 2020.

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

Beginning the week with back-to-back limited practices isn't ideal, but it's at least encouraging that Barrett hasn't been held out entirely. Unless the 27-year-old pass rusher can upgrade his activity level Friday, though, it looked like he could be destined to carry a 'questionable' tag for Sunday's game in Carolina.

Barrett (shoulder) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Barrett handled a season-low 68 percent snap share in last week's loss to the Saints. His lack of playing time may have been due to this injury, but it also may have been a result of how early the game got out of hand. Regardless, it's a positive sign that he's still able to practice ahead of this Sunday's matchup against Carolina.

Barrett totaled four tackles (two solo), including one sack, in the Buccaneers' 38-3 loss to the Saints on Sunday night.

Barrett broke a four-game sack-less streak with his takedown of Drew Brees, which marked the only time all game the Buccaneers got to the future Hall of Famer. The veteran linebacker is considerably off his jaw-dropping 2019 pace, a season that saw him record a league-best 19.5 sacks, which is unsurprising given how heavily focused defensive coordinators were clearly going to be in slowing down Barrett this season. He's offering some decent production on the tackle front with an average of just over 4.0 stops per contest, but he'll need to up his sack numbers to be a truly worthwhile fantasy asset.

Barrett posted six tackles (four solo), including one for loss, and also recorded a defensed pass in the Buccaneers' 45-20 win over the Raiders on Sunday.

The versatile linebacker applied solid pressure on Derek Carr on multiple occasions as well while tying his second-highest tackle total of the campaign. Barrett has just three sacks through seven games after posting a league-high and career-best 19.5 in 2019, but that's not exactly surprising when factoring in that offensive coordinators are naturally devising protection schemes with him specifically in mind.

Barrett recorded seven tackles. a sack, a tackle for a loss and a quarterback hit in Week 4 against the Chargers.

Barrett got to Justin Herbert early in the fourth quarter to help the Buccaneers' defense preserve a four-point lead. He now has three sacks for the campaign, all of which have come in the past two games. He remains a key part of the linebackers corps, as he logged a 92 percent snap rate.

Barrett recorded six tackles (five solo), including two sacks, and was credited with three tackles for loss overall in a 28-10 win over the Broncos on Sunday.

Making his return to the city where he played the first four seasons of his career, Barrett made a splash with his first two quarterback takedowns of 2020. One of those resulted in an early fourth-quarter safety, making it a stellar all-around fantasy day for the veteran linebacker. While he's way off the pace of last season's 19.5-sack season thus far, Barrett is on track for what would be a career-high 75 tackles after recording 14 stops through three games.

Barrett recorded three tackles (all solo) and one pass defensed in the Buccaneers' 34-23 loss to the Saints on Sunday.

Last year's NFL sack king got his 2020 campaign off to an inauspicious start against a tough opponent in the Saints. There's naturally an expectation Barrett will be a focus of opponents' pass-protection schemes this season after his 19.5 quarterback takedowns in 2019, meaning the sixth-year pro may have an uphill battle to generate a comparable encore in what is a second consecutive contract year.

Barrett signed his franchise tender Wednesday after he was unable to reach agreement on a long-term contract with the Bucs, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Wednesday deadline came and went without Barrett signing a multi-year deal. He'll now play out 2020 under the franchise tag, hoping to build on a 2019 breakout that saw him lead the NFL with 19.5 sacks. The 27-year-old has filed a grievance to be classified as a defensive end rather than an outside linebacker, with the distinction amounting to the difference between a $15.88 million salary and a $17.79 million tag. Barrett isn't likely to win the grievance, but it is possible player and team could settle on a number somewhere in the middle.

Barrett is set to sign his franchise tender with the Buccaneers, Jelani Scott of NFL.com reports.

Scott was relaying reporting from NFL Network colleague Ian Rapoport, who confirmed Friday that Barrett will ink the contract that guarantees him a minimum of $15.8 million for 2020. However Rapoport added that Barrett will also be filing a grievance via agent Drew Rosenhaus to be officially classified as a defensive end, a strategy that, if successful, could net him an additional $2 million in salary for the coming season. The veteran pass rusher may ultimately have a valid argument, considering he came off the edge frequently in his 2019 debut campaign in Tampa and racked up a career-best and NFL-high 19.5 sacks on his way to garnering second-team All-Pro honors.

Barrett intends on signing the franchise tag if he and the Buccaneers are unable to work out a long-term deal, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Barrett remains hopeful both parties can reach an agreement on a new contract but now is willing to accept the franchise tag if it comes down to it. Previously, it was reported that he was uncertain about signing it. It sounds look he's come to terms with how negotiations are difficult given the NFL's uncertain financial future in the current sports landscape. The 27-year-old recorded 55 tackles (42 solo), one interception and a career-high 19.5 sacks in his first season with Tampa Bay last year.

Barrett told NFL Network's Colleen Wolfe that he isn't sure if he'll sign his franchise tag, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Barrett referred to it as a "50/50" proposition, thus leaving the door open for a potential holdout. He's facing a July 15 deadline to sign either the tender or a long-term contract, hoping to cash in after leading the NFL with 19.5 sacks last year.