Barrett will sign franchise tag, plans to file grievance to be listed as DE

Shaq Barrett has informed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that he will sign his franchise tag, but he also told the team he has filed a grievance with the NFLPA to be recognized as a defensive end instead of a linebacker, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

There's a difference of $2 million between what defensive ends and linebackers are paid on the franchise tag. Barrett, who led the NFL in sacks last season with 19.5, would earn $17.8 million as a defensive end and $15.8 million as a linebacker.

The 27-year-old is listed as a linebacker in Tampa's 3-4 defense, though he rushed the quarterback on 507 snaps and dropped into coverage on just 66 plays, according to ESPN's Field Yates.

Barrett has made $5.6 million during his six seasons in the NFL. He put together a career year while playing on a one-year, $4-million contract with the Buccaneers in 2019.

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