Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report has confirmed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would like to extend edge rushers Shaquil Barrett and Carl Nassib to long-term extensions.
Both players are currently set to become unrestricted free agents following the 2019 season. Barrett was signed to a one-year, $4 million deal this past offseason while Nassib is in the final year of his three-year rookie deal originally signed with the Cleveland Browns. The Buccaneers inherited the contract as is when they claimed Nassib off of waivers entering 2018.
As a possible prelude to such deals, the team reworked former Pro Bowler Jason Pierre-Paul’s contract earlier this week. A move that created $4.4 million in cap savings for 2019 while voiding the final year of the deal clearing $12.5 million from the books for 2020.
Barrett has begun the season on a torrid pace registering 8.0 sacks (leads NFL) and two forced fumbles through three games. A feat that is not lost on head coach Bruce Arians:
“No one’s done it – it’s a first,” Arians said. “To me, when you put that in the history of football, that’s big. What he’s done is big and hopefully, he can continue.”
Nassib first endeared himself to the Buccaneers brass by beating out veteran Vinny Curry for the starting left end job in 2018 en route to a 29-tackle, 6.5-sack campaign.
The team also loves his leadership and infectious energy. The former Penn State Nittany Lion stepped into the void created by the losses of long-time Buccaneers Gerald McCoy and Kwon Alexander. Nassib was elected as a team captain in 2019. A spot formerly held by Alexander.
Tampa Bay currently has 25 players slated to become either restricted or unrestricted free agents entering the 2020 offseason. A list that includes not only Pierre-Paul, Barrett, and Nassib, but also quarterback Jameis Winston, and defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Beau Allen.
Per Sportrac, the Buccaneers currently have $125.8 million on the books for 2020 leaving $79.9 million in space based on a projected cap of $199 million.
