Shaq Barrett has informed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that he will sign his franchise tag, but he also told the team he has filed a grievance with the NFLPA to be recognized as a defensive end instead of a linebacker, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
There's a difference of $2 million between what defensive ends and linebackers are paid on the franchise tag. Barrett, who led the NFL in sacks last season with 19.5, would earn $17.8 million as a defensive end and $15.8 million as a linebacker.
The 27-year-old is listed as a linebacker in Tampa's 3-4 defense, though he rushed the quarterback on 507 snaps and dropped into coverage on just 66 plays, according to ESPN's Field Yates.
Barrett has made $5.6 million during his six seasons in the NFL. He put together a career year while playing on a one-year, $4-million contract with the Buccaneers in 2019.
