(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Shaq Barrett is one of the most accomplished veterans available on the free agent market.
The 9-year veteran has 59 career sacks in his four years with the Broncos and five with the Buccaneers and has reportedly now found his next home.
The Miami Dolphins didn’t have a good first day of free agency, losing some of their best players in Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt, but reinforcements are coming as according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Barrett is signing a 1-year, $9 million deal with Miami.
Free-agent Shaq Barrett has agreed to terms with the Dolphins on a one-year deal worth up to $9 million. The deal was confirmed by agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. pic.twitter.com/jaYCCWEVtX
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2024
The 31-year-old Barrett will be looking to get back to being the double-digit sack machine he was early in his Bucs tenure, as he only posted 4.5 sacks last season and 3 in an injury-shortened 2022 campaign.
Miami got to the quarterback 56 times last year, but replicating that success in 2024 will be an uphill battle.
Jaelan Phillips (6.5 sacks in 8 games) will be coming off a torn Achilles, Bradley Chubb (11 sacks) will be coming off a torn ACL, Christian Wilkins (9 sacks) signed with the Raiders yesterday, and Andrew Van Ginkel (6 sacks) signed with the Vikings.
That’s 32.5 of those 56 sacks either injured or out the door from last season.
The $9 million deal is an easily palatable contract for the Dolphins, who are right up against the salary cap according to Spotrac.
If all three are healthy, Chubb, Phillips, and Barrett will give Miami another strong group of edge rushers in 2024.
The tough part will be replacing Wilkins, who blossomed into one of the league’s best defensive tackles.
Who will Miami bring in next to try to fill that void in the middle of the line to help collapse pockets for these edge rushers?
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