The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are releasing two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Shaquil Barrett. Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on NFL Network Tuesday: “Shaq has been great for us over the last five years, but these tough decisions have to be made. Who knows we’ll see what happens down the line.”

The 31-year-old Barrett was set to receive a $15 million option bonus next month. he signed a four-year, $68 million contract with the Buccaneers in 2021, but that deal was later restructured. The Buccaneers are designating Barrett’s departure as as post-June 1 cut, which will save them $4.9 million in cap room, running their 2024 cap space to about $48.6 million.

Barrett, a Pro Bowl selection in 2019 and 2021, totaled 400 combined tackles, 289 solo tackles and 59 sacks through his first 131 appearances in the NFL. Barrett’s 45 sacks since joining Tampa Bay in 2019 are tied for the 14th-most in the NFL. However after he tore his Achilles in the 2022 season his production dipped in 2023, registering 4.5 sacks.

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