Former Bucs pass rusher Shaq Barrett has found a new home in free agency.

The Miami Dolphins are signing Barrett, who turns 32 this year, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that it’s a one-year, prove-it deal for the aging edge rusher worth up to $9 million.

The Dolphins lost top reserve edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel in free agency, and Barrett offers veteran depth behind starters Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb.

Shaq Barrett Was One Of Bucs’ Best Free Agent Signings

The Bucs first brought Shaq Barrett in on a one-year, $5 million contract back in 2019 after he left the Denver Broncos. In Denver, he was a rotational backup, logging less than 500 snaps in three of his four seasons. That allowed Tampa Bay to sign Barrett for a pittance in 2019.

Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The move immediately paid off as the fifth-year pass rusher logged 82 pressures and led the NFL with 19.5 sacks. The signing was hailed as the off-season free-agent acquisition of the year. Barrett came in 4th in voting for Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the Pro Bowl while also garnering a 2nd team All-Pro nomination.

Tampa Bay retained Barrett’s services in 2020 via the franchise tag, guaranteeing him $15,828,000 on a one-year pact to see if his 2019 performance was an aberration or something he could keep up. Barrett followed up his career campaign with another 77 pressures, but his sack total fell to eight.

In the playoffs he turned his game up, recording nine tackles, eight quarterback hits, 21 pressures, and four sacks in aiding Tampa Bay to their second Super Bowl in franchise history.

That effort made general manager Jason Licht feel comfortable enough to re-sign Barrett to his current contract. He rewarded Licht initially in 2021 with another double-digit sack (10.0) campaign before tearing his Achilles in week eight of the 2022 season. Barrett returned to play the entire 2023 season but only recorded 56 pressures and 4.5 sacks including the playoffs.

By Releasing Shaq Barrett, Bucs Save Some Cap Space

Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs do not owe Shaq Barrett any guaranteed cash at this point in his contract, but due to prorated bonuses, they are on the hook for $17,401,000 in dead cap charges that still need to be accounted for.

Pewter Report has reported that the team has designated his release as a post-June 1 move, which means they are allowed to incur those charges over two seasons.

In 2024 Tampa Bay will take on a salary cap charge of $9,267,000. Barrett was due to have a salary cap charge of $14,190,882 if he remained on the roster in 2024 so once the calendar turns to June 2, they will net $4,923,882 in savings.

For 2025, they will incur a dead cap hit of $17.401 million.