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Shaquil Barrett, the NFL’s sack leader for the 2019 season, is in Miami as the lone Buccaneers representative at the Pro Bowl. Although Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were voted in, both will miss the game due to injury.
Barrett signed a one year deal with the Bucs during last off-season and is looking to cash in on his stellar season where he broke the Bucs’ single season sack record and led the league with 19.5. However, there will be plenty of teams that will be interested in his services.
When asked about the upcoming free agency period, Barrett had this to say;
Shaq Barrett’s thoughts on free agency haven’t changed. Today at the Pro Bowl: “I don’t know where it’s going to end up at but I’m confident that I’m going to be where I should be, which I think is Tampa.”
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) January 22, 2020
It’s no secret that Bruce Arians wants Barrett back and it’s reasonable to think that Barrett - not Jameis Winston - is this team’s number one priority before the new league year begins.
The Buccaneers are going to do all they can to keep him in Tampa and they may not let this reach the open negotiating window by utilizing the franchise tag to ensure Barrett’s return in 2020.