According to a report ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bucs’ outside linebacker Shaq Barrett has agreed to sign his franchise tag, with one stipulation.
Prior to signing the tender, Barrett has filed a grievance with the NFL, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus, to be positionally designated as a defensive end instead of a linebacker.
PewterReport.com’s Scott Reynolds reported that this could be a tactic that Rosenhaus and Barrett could deploy in Friday’s SR’s Fab 5 column.
Bucs pass rusher Shaq Barrett has notified Tampa that he officially has accepted his franchise tender, but with an asterisk: he has filed a grievance with NFLPA to be tagged as a DE, not a LB, @RosenhausSports tells ESPN. There’s a $2 million diffference between a DE and an LB.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 10, 2020
Currently classified as a linebacker and not a defensive end, a difference of roughly $2 million in terms of a franchise tag, Barrett is in position earn $15.828 million for the 2020 season, per Over The Cap. Should he ultimately be designated as a defensive end, the price tag for Barrett would move up $17.788 million.
After signing a one-year, $4 million deal last offseason with the Bucs, Barrett is coming off of a career year, leading the league and setting a new franchise record with 19.5 sacks in 2019.
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