Thread: Did the Broncos Err by Letting Shaquil Barrett Walk?

Elway and his brain trust never valued Barrett and drafted Bradley Chubb to replace him. Chubb is certainly a good player. But, once on a team that valued his services and knew how to use him, Barrett is emerging as a potential NFL defensive MVP, which would be a terrible indictment to Broncos management.

Shaquil Barrett Is The Difference Maker The Buccaneers Need Him To Be

For any team hoping to have a successful season, the one role that needs to be filled more than anything else is that of the player that just needs one moment to change a game entirely. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that player is edge rusher Shaquil Barrett. Barrett has been nothing short of an absolute stud this season, and you don’t need to look much further than his sack numbers heading into Sunday’s game against the Rams to realize that.

Shaq Barrett's eight sacks in three weeks ties Mark Gastineau's 1984 mark for the most sacks through three games in NFL history.

Gastineau had 22 sacks that season, setting the NFL record that stood until Michael Strahan broke it by a half-sack in 2001.

Attachment 15069
Comparing Barrett to other great sack seasons.

The numbers don’t tell the whole story. His speed with which Barrett is able to explode off the line alone should strike fear into the hearts of any opposing quarterback, but even more intimidating is the fact that he always seems to know exactly what the offense’s snap count is. In his two standout games—Weeks 2 and 3—that latter skill had each quarterback he was chasing absolutely shook to the point where their uneasiness in the pocket resulted in him racking up even more sacks.

But it was ultimately Barrett’s clutch actions today in Los Angeles that had some calling the race for Defensive Player of the Year early in favor of the Tampa Bay player. In a high-scoring back-and-forth affair, the Buccaneers had established dominance over the Rams for a majority of the game and, quite frankly, made Sean McVay’s team look quite fraudulent. Just as it looked like the visitors had put the game away early in the fourth with an 18-point lead, the Rams responded with an eight-play 75-yard drive to cut it down to 11. Quarterback Jameis Winston—who had actually looked pretty darn good this game—then regressed back to the version of himself that fans are more used to seeing and essentially handed Marcus Peters an interception just three plays later. Peters took that pick to the house, cutting the lead to five (Rams tried and failed to go for two).

This was already discussed at length in another thread. Barrett publicly stated that he was only going to sign somewhere that would start him. So the only way Denver was guaranteeing that would be to ship off Miller or Chubb. Short of franchising Barrett which makes him a top 5 paid defensive end in the game, there was literally nothing we could do to keep him.

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

This was already discussed at length in another thread. Barrett publicly stated that he was only going to sign somewhere that would start him. So the only way Denver was guaranteeing that would be to ship off Miller or Chubb. Short of franchising Barrett which makes him a top 5 paid defensive end in the game, there was literally nothing we could do to keep him.

Of course they could have drafted OG Quenton Nelson who is starring for the Colts instead of Chubb and promoted Barrett to starter in 2018.

In retrospect (and that's what we're talking here of course), that would have been a better move. Of course Barrett might not have done as well in the Broncos defensive system.

The point is that you HAD a player who turns out to be a star, as soon as he leaves your crappy defense and goes to another team? That's just terrible.

Originally Posted by Cugel

Of course they could have drafted OG Quenton Nelson who is starring for the Colts instead of Chubb and promoted Barrett to starter in 2018.

In retrospect (and that's what we're talking here of course), that would have been a better move. Of course Barrett might not have done as well in the Broncos defensive system.

Sure, but that's all very easy to say in hindsight. And for all we know, Barrett would be having just as bad a year in the Fangio system as Miller/Chubb, and either Miller or Chubb might also be having a career year on the current Tampa team. It's just too easy to say in hindsight we should have kept him.

I'd guess Barrett's numbers won't hold up. Too many teams are now aware of him, and he'll be treated like Von moving forward. IE: double and triple teamed.

Originally Posted by BroncoJoe

I'd guess Barrett's numbers won't hold up. Too many teams are now aware of him, and he'll be treated like Von moving forward. IE: double and triple teamed.

Plus, I think he's talented, but not elite. JMO, of course.

Originally Posted by Cugel

Of course they could have drafted OG Quenton Nelson who is starring for the Colts instead of Chubb and promoted Barrett to starter in 2018.

In retrospect (and that's what we're talking here of course), that would have been a better move. Of course Barrett might not have done as well in the Broncos defensive system.

shaq started 9 games in 2017 and had a total of 4 sacks and played 664 defensive snaps

shaq played 251 defensive snaps in 2018 and had 3 sacks.....he has played in 115 defensive snaps this season with 9 sacks

clearly the guy had talent , but I think he is just in the right defense for him

They didnt "let him walk". Dumb thread.

We should have traded Chubb, and instead of this thread, we could be discussing how dumb we were for doing that.

I heard it on the raaaaaaaaadiooooo.

no. . .

Barrett is the only player i have seen that had a first step close to Von.

guess Broncos never saw it.

The team that is now wasting a whole a season with Flucco as QB.

Originally Posted by ShaneFalco

Barrett is the only player i have seen that had a first step close to Von.

guess Broncos never saw it.

The team that is now wasting a whole a season with Flucco as QB.

So your argument is we would have franchise tagged him.

Originally Posted by underrated29

They didnt "let him walk". Dumb thread.

He wanted to start somewhere