Bucs restructure Shaq Barrett's contract, create cap space
The name of the game this week is for NFL teams to create as much space under the salary cap as they can with the free-agent market now open. That's exactly what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did when they restructured edge rusher Shaq Barrett's contract on the first day of free agency.
The exact details of the new contract have not been made public, although ProFootball Talk suggests a portion of Barrett's salary for next season was converted into a signing bonus in order to spread the cap hit over multiple seasons.
Barrett signed a four-year, $68.5 million deal with TB last year. According to Spotrac, the 29-year-old was set to make $16 million next season, which would have carried a cap hit over $19 million.
Tampa Bay has been busy locking down their roster for next season now that Tom Brady — who carries a cap hit over $20 million — has decided to return for yet another NFL season. They also converted some of nose tackle Vita Vea's contract, which reportedly freed up $7.64 million.
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