Back in 2019, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a savvy move by signing Shaq Barrett from the Denver Broncos on a one-year, $4 million deal. At the time, Barrett had shown flashes of potential but was overshadowed by stars like Von Miller and Bradley Chubb in Denver. Tampa Bay saw the opportunity and seized it.
In his debut season with the Bucs, Barrett exploded onto the scene with 19.5 sacks, quickly establishing himself as one of the NFL's premier pass rushers. Over the next two seasons, he continued to be a force with eight and ten sacks, respectively, providing the Buccaneers with a relentless edge presence.
Fast forward to the present, and Tampa Bay might have another golden opportunity on their hands. Enter John Franklin-Myers, a versatile defensive lineman who could be the next piece to bolster their defensive front. With the potential departure of Logan Hall in free agency, Franklin-Myers could seamlessly fill that gap.
Franklin-Myers has quietly emerged as a standout performer, racking up seven sacks in 2024 and 7.5 in 2025. Despite the depth of talent in Denver's defensive line, including players like D.J.
Jones and Zach Allen, Franklin-Myers has managed to shine. His Pro Football Focus grade in 2024 placed him sixth among 132 defensive linemen, with an impressive 84.3 pass-rush grade.
Heading into his age-30 season, Franklin-Myers is coming off two of his most productive years. For Tampa Bay, this is about immediate impact rather than long-term planning. The financial aspect is appealing too; Franklin-Myers isn't expected to demand a contract that breaks the bank, making him a strategic acquisition.
While the scenario isn't a carbon copy of Barrett's-since Franklin-Myers is already an established starter-the parallels are intriguing. Denver's focus on other defensive priorities could allow Tampa Bay to swoop in and enhance their defensive line with a proven pass rusher ready to make an immediate difference.