Shaquil Barrett Looking to Kick on With Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett has credited the Bucs with his flourishing as a player.

Shaquil Barrett (27), began his career with the Denver Broncos. In four years in Denver, he started a total of 15 games, getting 14 sacks.

Since joining the Buccaneers in 2019, his career has taken off, and he earned his first Pro Bowl selection. Shaquil Barrett started all 16 games in 2019, leading the league in sacks with 19. His 19 sacks also broke Hall of Famer Warren Sapp’s franchise record 16.5 sacks from the 2000 season. 

As well as that, Barrett had 58 tackles, 6 forced fumbles and one interception. As a result, he is keen to stay in Tampa Bay for the long haul. 

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“I’m expecting to still be down here in Tampa. I feel as though we both feel that we got a lot of good momentum from last year we’re gonna build on,” Barrett said. 

“So, we’re gonna try to work that out and figure out what that’s going to look like but I’m confident I’ll be down here.”

Barrett hits the free agent market on March 18, but having found his ‘rhythm’, wants to repay the Tampa Bay organization.

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“It is important to me. It’s like all my success as a starter is down here and it’s not broke. There’s no reason for me to want to try to go fix something that’s not broke,” Barrett said. 

“So, I’m on board but I still do understand it’s a business so I am preparing for anything. Emotionally, I think it’s going to be down in Tampa.”

He would have no problem playing on the franchise tag if that’s what it came to.

“I’m gonna play off the tag [if] I got to but I do want that long-term deal. It’s all about security for me and my family; that’s all I’ve been fighting for my whole time in the NFL,” he said. 

“Even a franchise tag, I’m still getting the security too but I just want a long contract and long-term security.”