The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't want to lose linebacker Shaq Barrett in free agency, which could mean the team may ultimately slap a franchise tag on him by the Monday deadline.
While that is typically something that peeves players, Barrett isn't about to hold out if it ends up occurring:
“I’m gonna play off the tag [if] I got to but I do want that long-term deal,” Barrett said on NFL Network this week. “It’s all about security for me and my family; that’s all I’ve been fighting for my whole time in the NFL. Even a franchise tag, I’m still getting the security too but I just want a long contract and long-term security.”
Remember: even if the Buccaneers decide to tag Barrett, it doesn't mean they can't reach a long-term contract at some point this offseason, as the two sides would have until July to come to an agreement.
Tampa Bay signed Barrett to a one-year deal last March, and Barrett went on to enjoy a breakout season, racking up a league-leading 19.5 sacks to go along with 58 tackles, an interception and six forced fumbles en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance.
The 27-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Colorado State, went undrafted but eventually landed with the Denver Broncos in 2014.
Barrett spent his first five seasons with the Broncos, amassing a grand total of 14 sacks.
As a result of Barrett's shaky track record prior to joining the Bucs, some think that signing him to a lucrative long-term deal could be risky.
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