Shaq Barrett Fantasy Football News 2021

The Buccaneers have reached a 4-year deal to keep OLB Shaq Barrett from reaching free agency. Agent Drew Rosenhaus says it carries a top value of $72 million, with $36 million of that guaranteed. Barrett has emerged as 1 of the league's top pass rushers over his 2 seasons in Tampa Bay. He fell from a league-high 19.5 sacks in 2019 to just 8 last season, but Barrett's 76 total pressures ranked 2nd only to Aaron Donald.

The Buccaneers have placed MLB Devin White and OLB Shaq Barrett on the COVID list. That obviously knocks them out for Sunday's game against the Falcons -- 2 big losses for a defense that allowed Atlanta 27 points and 332 passing yards 2 weeks ago. The team defense takes a step back as a fantasy option with the losses as well. White (with 9) and Barrett (8) rank 2nd and 3rd on the team in sacks for the year. It's not yet clear whether either player tested positive, which would threaten their availability for next week's playoff opener. We'll keep an eye on that. Kevin Minter looks like the White replacement, with Anthony Nelson the next guy up on the edge.

Update: NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that White tested positive, so expect him to miss the playoff opener as well. Barrett is close contact, so he'll be back for that game as long as he continues to test negative.

The Buccaneers have applied the franchise tag to OLB Shaq Barrett. Contract talks have reportedly gone positively this offseason, so Barrett always appeared headed back to the team that helped him break out in 2019. Barrett blew up for 19.5 sacks last season after totaling 14 over his previous 5 campaigns. Barrett turned 27 in mid-November.

Buccaneers OLB Shaq Barrett is active for today's game against the Panthers. He arrived questionable with an oblique issue but is available for your IDP lineups. S Mike Edwards (hamstring) is also active despite a "questionable" tag.