Buccaneers use franchise tag on Barrett

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed their franchise tag on pass-rusher Shaquil Barrett, the team announced Monday.

Barrett signed a one-year, $4-million contract with the Bucs in 2019 and turned it into 19.5 sacks in a career season.

Tampa Bay will attempt to keep Barrett for another season at a projected salary of $15.8 million, according to Spotrac.

The Bucs used their non-exclusive tag, and therefore Barrett is still able to negotiate with other teams, but Tampa Bay retains the right to match any offer. If he signs with another club and the Buccaneers don't match, that team must send Tampa two first-round picks.

Barrett and starting quarterback Jameis Winston were the Buccaneers' two biggest pending free agents. By using their franchise tag on the former, the expectation is that Winston will enter the legal tampering period at noon Monday ahead of free agency, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Head coach Bruce Arians had said during the scouting combine that the Bucs would prioritize retaining many of its defensive starters, stating, "I don't care who's my quarterback. We've gotta have a defense."