Buccaneers record holder Shaquil Barrett retires from NFL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stay up to date with our daily updates: news, notes and more during the Buccaneers 2024 training camp and preseason Scott Smith

Updates from July 22nd

Outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, who took his career to a new level when he joined the Buccaneers in 2019, has decided to retire after 10 years in the NFL. Barrett signed with the Dolphins in March after being cut by the Buccaneers, but announced in a statement Sunday that he planned to walk away.

“It’s time for me to call it quits,” Barrett wrote. “It’s been an amazing ride and I appreciate everything that has come with it over the years. I’m ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them achieve and catch their dreams.”

Barrett’s release from the Buccaneers in March was driven by salary cap concerns, but his five seasons in Tampa reached impressive heights. Looking for a chance to start after serving primarily as a reserve for the Denver Broncos, Barrett signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay in 2019 and promptly broke the team’s single-season sack record with 19.5 that season. He became the first Buccaneer ever to lead the NFL in sacks for a season and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He also earned his first Pro Bowl invitation that year and was a second-team Associated Press All-Pro.

In 2020, Barrett was an integral part of a defense that dominated the playoffs as the Buccaneers captured their second Super Bowl championship. After 8.0 sacks in the regular season, he added 4.0 more in the playoffs, including 3.0 in the NFC Championship in Green Bay. Barrett went to his second Pro Bowl in 2021 after contributing 10.0 sacks for a team that captured the NFC South title. An Achilles injury ended his 2022 season after eight games and 3.0 sacks, but he returned last fall to play in 16 games and contribute 4.5 sacks.

Overall, Barrett collected 45.0 sacks in five seasons in Tampa, the fifth most in franchise history. He also recorded 249 tackles, 48 ​​tackles for loss, 90 quarterback hits, 15 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 11 passes defensed. He spent five seasons in Denver, including a rookie year on the practice squad in which he totaled 14.0 sacks, 151 tackles and 35 quarterback hits. Barrett played his college football at Colorado State and originally joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent.

After a quiet weekend, the AdventHealth Training Center will be busy again from Monday.

Buccaneer rookies were scheduled to report to training camp on Monday, along with players receiving treatment for injuries. Monday also marked the first official day of work for the team’s coaching staff since the end of mini-camp in June.

The Buccaneers and Browns are the only two teams in the league reporting their rookies this Monday, but eight others are doing so on Tuesday and Wednesday. The rest of the teams signed their rookies sometime last week, starting with the Ravens on July 13.

While the entire team will be hard at work on the practice field on Wednesday, rookie report day will have a fairly light schedule. NFL rookies will undergo medicals between 9 a.m. and noon, with breakfast and lunch available, but there are no team meetings or strength training sessions scheduled.

Tampa Bay’s veterans will follow the rookies on Tuesday, with the first practice scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.

The Buccaneers are hoping to get a big impact from their rookie class, much like they did last year when defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, guard Cody Mauch, outside linebacker Yaya Diaby and nickel back Christian Izien all found themselves in the starting lineup. Trey Palmer took over as the team’s third receiver, while linebacker SirVocea Dennis and cornerback Josh Hayes quickly became the core of the special teamers.

This year, the Buccaneers expect first-round pick Graham Barton to compete for their starting center job and will likely have second-round outside linebacker Chris Braswell at the heart of their edge rushing rotation. Two third-round picks, safety Tykee Smith and wide receiver Jalen McMillan, will also compete for key roles, while fourth-round running back Bucky Irving could be part of a one-two punch in the backfield with Rachaad White.

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