The Nitty Gritty

Outside linebacker Shaq Barrett came to the Bucs during the 2019 offseason as a free agent on a one-year deal after five years in Denver, waiting in the wings behind the likes of outside linebacker Von Miller. Barrett didn't have gaudy stats but was brought in as a solid player to help the Bucs' ailing pass rush. He competed for a starting outside backer job in the Bucs' new 3-4 scheme under Defensive Coordinator Todd Bowles in training camp and many thought he just barely edged out Noah Spence for the job.

Those people would be wrong, and Barrett would prove it – immediately.

In his first four regular season games, Barrett amassed 9.0 sacks – tying for the most ever through four games in NFL history. He surpassed the double-digit mark during Week Eight. He tied Warren Sapp's franchise record for most single-season sacks in Week 15 with 16.5. And then, when all was said and done - he finished with a league-best 19.5 after a final push in Week 17 against the Falcons in which he tallied 3.0 sacks. Simply put: Barrett bet on himself and won.

His efforts earned him the first Pro Bowl nod of his career and second-team All-Pro honors (how the league's sack leader doesn't get first-place votes is beyond me, too). He earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week Two primetime performance against the Panthers where he tallied 3.0 sacks in Carolina. He subsequently earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September for tying the sack record through four games as well as leading the NFL in quarterback hits (10), tackles for loss (7.0) and tied for third in the NFL with three forced fumbles. He added an interception of Rams' quarterback Jared Goff in Week Four for good measure.

In all, Barrett finished the season with 58 combined tackles, a second-ranked 19 tackles for loss and third-ranked six forced fumbles. His league-leading 19.5 sacks were the most ever by an undrafted player since sacks became an official stat in 1982.

And now… here's ALL of them in one place.

Highlight Reel

Week One vs. San Francisco