NFL franchise tag 2021: 10 players most likely to be tagged

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TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks to pass against Shaquil Barrett #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

3. Franchise tag candidates – Buccaneers LB Shaq Barrett

Our second Buccaneers’ player on the list is Barrett, who received the franchise tag a year ago. Barrett burst onto the scene in 2019 with a 19.5 sack season, a far cry from his previous totals as a member of the Denver Broncos, so it made plenty of sense for Tampa Bay to invest $15.8 million to see if he could do it again.

As expected, Barrett’s production dipped in 2020 but he still delivered eight sacks while making plenty of impact plays on defense. Tampa Bay also saw Barrett become a game-wrecker in the playoffs, registering three sacks in the NFC Championship Game and another in the Super Bowl.

It is clear that Barrett has become an elite pass rusher worthy of a significant contract. Tampa Bay will look to re-sign Barrett but a second franchise tag remains on the table if a deal can’t be reached.

Barrett would earn $18.9 million on a second tag, a figure that is expensive but well worth it given how hard it would be to replace him. Tagging Barrett could cost the Buccaneers Godwin, however, making this a difficult call to figure out.

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