Buccaneers LB Shaq Barrett Willing To Take Less Money To Stay

Buccaneers LB Shaq Barrett said he would be willing to take less money to stay in Tampa Bay, per JoeBucsFan.com.

Barrett mentioned he would factor in the taxes he would pay for joining a team in a state that’s less favorable than Florida, which doesn’t charge income tax. 

“If [other teams] offer me more than Tampa, I’m going to look at the places, if they offer me more than Tampa, I’m going to look at what their taxes is compared to Tampa’s,” Barrett told Chris “Mad Dog” Russo in an interview during Super Bowl week in Miami. “Because I ain’t going to live in L.A. and get taxed crazy.”

Barrett clarified he wouldn’t take dramatically less than market value, which could exceed $16 million per season. But he explained that he hates moving and has taken less money in the past to avoid it. His preference is to stay with the Buccaneers. 

“I’m not going to take drastically less but I am open to doing what I think is best for my career, and I think that would be staying in Tampa,” Barrett added.

Barrett signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year, prove-it deal this offseason and cashed in in a big way by breaking out for 19.5 sacks in 2019. 

Both Barrett and the Buccaneers have expressed interest in keeping him in Tampa Bay on a long-term deal this offseason. 

Barrett, 27, signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State in 2014. He was waived coming out of the preseason and re-signed to Denver’s practice squad. 

After bouncing back and forth between the practice squad and active roster, Barrett landed on the active roster at the end of his rookie year. Barrett signed with the Buccaneers as an unrestricted free agent in 2019 to a one-year, $4 million deal. 

In 2019, Barrett appeared in all 16 games for the Buccaneers and recorded 58 total tackles, 19.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, one interception and two pass defenses. He was rated by Pro Football Focus as the No. 25 edge defender out of 107 qualifying players. 

We’ll have more on Barrett and the Buccaneers as the news is available.