NFL Free Agency 2020: 5 Best landing spots for Shaquil Barrett
By Samuel Teets
5. Arizona Cardinals
This past season, Barrett almost lost the sack crown to Chandler Jones. Jones finished the year with 19 sacks and 26 quarterback hits. He also finished tied for the league lead in forced fumbles with eight. Barrett came in third with six.
While Arizona should focus on building their offense around Kyler Murray, the defense also requires a lot of work. The only Arizona pass rusher who finished with more than three sacks, besides Jones, last season was Terrell Suggs, and he got waived before the end of the year.
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The pairing of Barrett and Jones would instantly rank among the best in the NFL. In eight seasons, Jones has amassed 96 sacks and 162 quarterback hits. He is one of the league’s premier pass rushers. If Barrett can play at a high level consistently, he and Jones could become an iconic duo.
However, the Cardinals may not want to give a significant amount of their $39.7 million in cap space to a potential one-hit-wonder like Barrett.
4. New York Giants
With $61.96 million in cap space, the Giants can finally address their defense this offseason. New York fans long for a return to the days of Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora. Even a Mathias Kiwanuka would be welcome at this point.
When the Giants first defeated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, the team’s defensive front boasted some of the best pass rushers in football. Today’s roster couldn’t be further from those golden days.
New York’s best pass rusher from 2019, Markus Golden, will test free agency this spring. Golden led the team with ten sacks and 27 quarterback hits. No other player even reached five sacks. Former Pro Bowl defensive end, Leonard Williams will also become a free agent.
Considering New York’s current talent pool on defense, the Giants need a total rebuild. Dexter Lawrence and Jabrill Peppers look like the only viable players on that unit moving forward.