Former All-Pro edge rusher Shaq Barrett is coming out of retirement, the Lions are the best spot for him to land, how a signing from 2023 explains how he could work in Detroit
Earlier on Thursday we wrote a story suggesting three veteran players the Detroit Lions could add to their practice squad ahead of the playoffs. Then the universe decided to add one more. The Miami Dolphins are waiving former All-Pro edge rusher Shaq Barrett from the reserve retired list. Barrett signed with the Dolphins in the […]
Earlier on Thursday we wrote a story suggesting three veteran players the Detroit Lions could add to their practice squad ahead of the playoffs. Then the universe decided to add one more. The Miami Dolphins are waiving former All-Pro edge rusher Shaq Barrett from the reserve retired list.
Barrett signed with the Dolphins in the offseason and then decided to retire to spend time with family. He is now wanting to come out of retirement and have a chance to play this season.
The Lions have a need for pass rushers as we noted on Thursday in a story about how the Lions are getting pressures, but they aren't getting home as much as they could. Barrett could potentially help with that.
The good news here is that while Barrett is subject to waivers, no team will claim because claiming someone waived off the reserve retired list would mean that player is not eligible to play that season. The only way Barrett can play this year is if he clears waivers and becomes a free agent. Then he can sign anywhere he wants and the odds that he'll be looking to sign with a contender are high.
In this case, Barrett could land with a contender that actually intends to play him. The Lions would be unlikely to start him, but he could fit into the rotation quite well.
In terms of being on the practice squad or not, that would be up in the air. The Lions would likely sign him and then spend a few weeks getting him ready much like they did with Bruce Irvin last season. The practice squad might be the best spot for that, but he'd likely want a chance to be on a 53-man roster instead. That's doable for the Lions. They currently have two open spots and we know one of them is likely getting filled by the returning Jalen Reeves-Maybin. The other we don't know yet.
We'll see where Barrett winds up, but this could happen fast. He could be on a roster by the end of the week.