Shaquil Barrett announced his retirement in July, a decision which seemed to bring his career to an end. The veteran pass rusher is now interested in a comeback, however.
Barrett has applied for reinstatement, per his agents (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). He remains under contract to the Dolphins, who placed him on the reserve/retired list during the summer. The decision to step away from football came as a surprise to the team, although at the time the door remained open to a return.
Barrett’s five-year run with the Buccaneers came to an end this offseason, but he was in place to continue playing in 2024 when he inked a one-year Dolphins pact. That set him up to play a notable role in the team’s edge contingent, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports the 32-year-old is willing to suit up for the Dolphins provided he is reinstated.
Miami has been without Jaelan Phillips for most of the year after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. The team also has Bradley Chubb in the fold, but he has yet to make his 2024 debut as he continues rehabbing the ACL tear he suffered late last season. Those absences could allow Barrett to take on at least a rotational role down the stretch. First-round rookie Chop Robinson has shown promise in recent weeks, but added depth along the edge would certainly be welcomed by a Dolphins team looking to make a postseason push.
Barrett led the NFL with 19.5 sacks in 2019, and he racked up 18 across the following two seasons. His workload and production declined after that, though, and he posted three sacks in 2022 before following it up with 4.5 last year. Incentives are present in his Dolphins pact, including $250K in per-game roster bonuses. Returning to action would boost the two-time Super Bowl winner’s earnings while also helping his case for playing in 2025 if he so desires.
If Barrett were to be placed on waivers, he would be available to interested teams if any were willing to put in a claim. Failing that, the two-time Pro Bowler would become a free agent. If the Dolphins match his willingness to play in Miami over the remainder of the campaign, though, he could see time for them in the near future.