NFL Rumors: Shaquil Barrett Released by Buccaneers Ahead of $15.04M Contract Bonus

Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquil Barrett is set to become a free agent for the second time in four years.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are releasing Barrett before he is owed a $15.04 million option bonus next month.

Barrett originally joined the Bucs as a free agent in March 2019. He signed a one-year deal after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Denver Broncos.

That contract turned out to be a steal for the Buccaneers. Barrett led the NFL with 19.5 sacks and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2019. He played on the franchise tag in 2020.

Following the Bucs' Super Bowl victory in the 2020 season, Barrett signed a four-year, $72 million deal in March 2021.

The first season of that contract went well, with Barrett recording a team-high 10 sacks in 15 games during the 2021 campaign. His 2022 season ended after eight games when he suffered a torn Achilles in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Tampa restructured Barrett's deal shortly before the start of last season, freeing up $10.5 million in cap space. The move lowered his 2024 base salary to $1.21 million.

Per Spotrac, the Bucs will be on the hook for a $26.7 million dead-cap charge if they don't want to use the post-June 1 cut designation. If they decide to use the post-June 1 designation, Barrett's dead-cap number will be $9.3 million and they'll save $4.9 million against the cap.

Tampa already has $43.7 million in cap space going into the offseason. The team does have a lot of big free-agent decisions to make, including potentially re-signing quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans.

Barrett was able to stay healthy last season coming off the Achilles injury. He started 18 of their 19 games between the regular season and playoffs. His performance hasn't returned to the pre-injury form, though.

The 31-year-old recorded nine quarterback hits and 4.5 sacks in 16 regular-season games.