Shaq Barrett is certainly one of a form. It’s not typically {that a} group just like the Bucs lucks right into a famous person edge rusher who had been mendacity across the NFL as a backup for 4 years and allowed to get to free company with out a lot as a “how do you do?” from his earlier group. To get that sort of expertise for simply $5 million solely to have him ship 19.5 sacks … effectively that’s a as soon as in a lifetime discover.
So, let’s see if we will do it once more, we could?
What Jason Licht Noticed In Shaq Barrett In 2019
Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett and former Falcons QB Desmond Ridder – Photograph by: USA Right now
Shaq Barrett was an afterthought of free company. The Bucs acquired him on a one-year show it deal for simply $3 million assured. However Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht noticed a possible star, as did former personnel government John Spytek, who got here from the Broncos the place he acquired to see Barrett up-close and private in Denver.
Barrett’s underlying manufacturing was tantalizing. In restricted enjoying time Professional Soccer Focus had charted him with 22 quarterback hits, 15 sacks and 67 hurries for a complete of 104 pressures in simply 861 go rush reps. His 12.1% strain charge over his time in Denver is akin to Brian Burns’ present profession charge. His go rush win charge over these 4 years by no means dipped beneath 10.5% and peaked at 16.0%.
Barrett had simply by no means actually been given a possibility to play vital snaps.
The Bucs offered him with that chance, and as everyone knows he flourished for a number of seasons earlier than an Achilles harm in 2022 sapped him of a lot of his superpowers – notably his fast get-off.
Bucs May Be Wanting For One other Diamond In The Tough
Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Shaq Barrett was an underutilized, however environment friendly go rusher who was ready to breakout. He was a legit No. 1 edge rusher for the higher a part of 4 seasons. The Bucs might use a legit No. 1 edge proper now, however that received’t be Barrett, who’s 33 and re-signed with the group simply on the finish of final season.
The group has full religion and confidence in Yaya Diaby. They see him as a future double-digit sacker. This implies it’s not a slam dunk that they are going to commerce for a longtime alpha like Trey Henderson. And choosing at No. 19 within the draft implies that a blue-chip edge rusher like Marshall’s Mike Inexperienced will not be there by the point they choose.
In the event that they see Diaby as front-end man they might be trying to catch lightning in a bottle throughout from him. Licht could really feel like he can discover a high-upside, low-risk choice similar to he did with Barrett in 2019. That could be final 12 months’s second-round choose Chris Braswell, who got here on robust late in his rookie season. Braswell elevated his strain charge after Week 8 from 7.9% to 14.3%.
If it’s not Braswell, Licht could also be in search of a flyer like Barrett was when he initially joined the Bucs. And now we now have a robust statistical profile to seek for with a purpose to discover potential targets that Licht and his professional personnel division would possibly check out.
I’m going to restrict my search to gamers that common lower than 250 and greater than 100 go rush snaps per season with a strain charge of 12% or extra and who’ve a go rush win charge no decrease than 10.5% in any season. And if that participant has a spike in that division in 2024 all the higher. I’m not going to restrict my search to only pending free brokers. Licht has been identified to make use of the commerce market earlier than.
I discovered three gamers.
Josh Uche
Patriots EDGE Josh Uche – Photograph by: USA Right now
Josh Uche was a participant I advocated the Bucs choosing up final 12 months. He finally re-signed with the Patriots for a beneath market deal. Uche broke out in 2022 with 56 pressures per Professional Soccer Focus and 11.5 sacks. He has a historical past of enjoying in a a number of system that requested him to do extra than simply rush off the sting. Uche is a smaller pace/bend participant with implausible dip and burst. That skillset is one thing the Bucs have lacked off the sting since Shaq Barrett began to say no in 2022.
Welcome again to New England Josh Uche!!
LFG! pic.twitter.com/nEk10VVw8o
Uche’s snap counts have been on the decline. He performed simply 249 snaps between New England and Kansas Metropolis, who traded for him, this 12 months. Uche could be the definition of a buy-low candidate with some actually tantalizing expertise. He can be simply 27 when the 2025 season begins and he can be comparatively low cost. A deal for him can be just like Barrett’s 2019 deal coming in round $5 million.
James Houston
James Houston burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2022. He posted 17 pressures and eight sacks in 92 go rush snaps. That’s an unimaginable 18.5% strain charge. His ghost-hop was each distinctive and efficient.
Lots of people are forgetting what James Houston was doing when he was wholesome
In 2022, he solely began 7 GAMES and had 8 SACKS 🔥
He was injured all the 2023 season, however anticipate a HUGE 12 months out of Houston if he can keep wholesome ‼️#OnePride pic.twitter.com/2VD429gPb1
He recorded 4 sacks in his first 5 video games, however accidents robbed him of 2023. He performed simply 42 snaps that 12 months.
Final 12 months he performed in eight video games with the Lions and was a reasonably productive go rusher. However Detroit launched him regardless of quite a few accidents to their protection and alongside their defensive position particularly. The Browns picked him up and he performed sparingly for the ultimate three weeks of the season. Regardless of the dearth of enjoying time Houston nonetheless notched 15 pressures in 2024. One other high-side arc winner, Houston could be a great praise to the Bucs present go rush that options three robust inside winners in Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby.
Houston is a restricted free agent. The Browns could have the chance to maintain him on their roster if they honestly need him. However the Bucs could have a possibility to make a proposal to Houston. If the Browns place a restricted free agent tender it could imply Tampa Bay must give him not less than a $3 million contract and draft compensation to Cleveland.
Commerce Candidate
Nick Herbig
Nate Herbig is a rising star locked in behind two established studs in Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt. Amazingly, even when one of many veterans got here off the sphere the warmth didn’t get notched down for opposing quarterbacks. In simply two seasons and 308 go rush snaps Herbig has registered 37 pressures and eight.5 sacks. Final season he leveled up with an 11.9% strain charge and 15.9% go rush win charge. He has among the best first steps within the NFL and is one other high-side winner.
Nick Herbig has been UNREAL for the Steelers.
PFF’s second highest graded go rusher on the 12 months – 93.4 (behind Hutch)
He has essentially the most 90+ PRSH graded video games this season with FOUR… even whereas lacking 4 contests.pic.twitter.com/6vy5ngYeIH
The Steelers spent a fourth-round draft choose on Herbig in 2023. And he’s greater than paid off that funding.
Steelers OLB Nick Herbig – Photograph by: USA Right now
Highsmith is on a team-friendly deal and all indications are that Pittsburgh will lengthen Watt, a future Corridor of Famer. That doesn’t depart a transparent path for Herbig to get right into a starter’s position. Nonetheless, Herbig is on an affordable rookie contract and the Steelers worth their go rush.
It would shock you that it could take a first-round choose to get the Steelers to relinquish him. For that sort of price-tag the Bucs could be extra prone to pursue a longtime veteran like Trey Hendrickson. However the thought of getting an ascending participant reasonably than a probable declining one is an fascinating thought experiment.
The probability the Bucs discover one other Shaq Barrett is extraordinarily small. Cross rushers are so priceless groups strive in any respect prices to maintain them round. With that mentioned, Jason Licht had a extremely good course of. And that’s a course of he can replicate as a result of it includes minimizing danger and maximizing reward. Of those three gamers I’d say a deal for Herbig is the least doubtless as a result of the Steelers could have little-to-no incentive to maneuver a proficient and cost-controlled piece and the price to accumulate can be prohibitive for Licht and firm.
I preserve coming again to Uche. I assumed it could have been good course of final 12 months, however Uche appeared hell-bent on returning to New England. A 12 months later after the Patriots as soon as once more restricted his snaps and finally traded him, Uche could also be extra inclined to discover a residence that may maximize his checking account and his skills extra. I might see the Bucs being that match.
And who is aware of? Perhaps Tampa Bay finds its subsequent Shaq Barrett.
