Shaq Barrett: Setting himself up for life?

Sack Specialists aka Defensive Darlings

There are a lot of things, I don’t know. There is one thing that I know without a doubt: Any defensive player that can rack up big numbers in the sack department is rewarded very, very, handsomely. It is probably the biggest salary booster that there is for a player that never has to touch the ball, think about it. Some offensive lineman can demand high salaries without touching the ball, but nowhere near as much as a sack specialist can demand.

Mixed results up until now

Having said that, the early success of Shaq Barrett has propelled his name, and sack numbers across the league, you can bet it’s not going unnoticed. It’s no secret that the Bucs only signed him to a one year, 4 Million dollar contract. His options are wide open for 2020, and if he continues at half or a third of the pace he is now, those options are going to be many, and valuable. Now I’m going to do some assuming. I’m assuming that because he Loves Bowles Defensive Scheme (he said as much when he signed) and that now he has excelled mightily in it, his first choice would be to again sign with the Bucs if the price is right.

What might Barrett command in a new deal

What might that price be? Salaries for quarterback destroyers vary quite a bit. Shaq is only 26, so he is still young, and should have quite a few years left to harass the man behind center. So far in his career, he has played steady, with signs of being more than average, but this is the first year that he has played lights out. That is why the Bucs got him at a bargain, and only committed to a one year deal. Kind of a test drive if you will. It turns out that the Caprice Classic with nice rims that pulled into One Buc in the preseason has now become a Bugatti Chiron (1578 hp- 304mph) and is out in the parking lot smoking the tires, disappearing into a wall of smoke. So what should the Bucs do? Normally before a player gets a huge contract, he’s had a few years of excellence under his belt from his rookie contract. That’s not the case here though.

Quarterback destroyers worth their weight in gold

With Barrett, he will only have one year of excellence to show, and that’s assuming his stellar play continues at a reasonable level through 16 games. Still, with the need for players of that caliber, teams will more than likely be willing to pull the trigger on a big payout. I am again assuming, Shaq will want a fairly long term deal. He’s in his prime, and probably hasn’t reached his best yet. I would think he wants the big payout now while he’s still young and getting better. A place to settle down and call home may also play a part.

Reasonably, what might the Bucs offer

Then there is another angle, a two to three year deal of much substance with the Bucs, time to further prove without a doubt, his true worth, and then go for the mega-deal at 28-29 years old with some good years still left. Three years, 28 million is a figure I could see the Bucs offering, and him possibly biting on. David has a 5 year 50 million deal, so 28 million, 3 years seems fair, with a ball breaker contract coming upon the end of that one if he continues to be at the top of his game. But what do I know? There may be several teams ready to throw down 78 million for 6-8 years with a butt load of it guaranteed. Time will tell how this all will play out, but you can be sure, teams are paying attention knowing Barrett’s one year deal, and availability next year. Licht may afford himself a favor if he acted sooner than later, while the irons hot.

Wrapping up

No matter how it plays out, I know we are all hoping that Barrett can keep it up all season, it seems improbable that he could. But, I thought it would be very tough for him to get 3 sacks again in this last game, and he got 4, so anything is possible. Go Bucs!!!