How the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made another NFL franchise look silly
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made an iconic NFL franchise look silly this week. Tampa Bay acquired offensive guard Shaq Mason from the New England Patriots for a fifth-round pick earlier this week. Mason is coming off a tremendous season for the Patriots, in which he finished with a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 85.2. […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made an iconic NFL franchise look silly this week.
Tampa Bay acquired offensive guard Shaq Mason from the New England Patriots for a fifth-round pick earlier this week.
Mason is coming off a tremendous season for the Patriots, in which he finished with a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 85.2.
There were only three guards in the NFL who graded higher than Mason last year.
This trade probably flew under the radar for people who aren't fans of the Buccaneers or the Patriots. But it was one of the biggest steals of the offseason for Tampa Bay.
And it has some national reporters wondering what is going on with the Patriots.
NFL.com's Cynthia Frelund called the move a "head-scratcher" this week for New England.
OK, this one is a head-scratcher for the Patriots, who only receive a fifth-round pick while offloading the balance of Mason's non-premium contract (just a $7.4 million in 2022, then $8.5 million in '23). The 28-year-old has been PFF's fifth-highest-graded guard since 2016.
For Tampa, a Super Bowl contender once again with Tom Brady's unretirement, the deal makes all the sense in the world. Mason fills a huge need left by Ali Marpet's surprise retirement. Mason's run-blocking grade rates in the top three among right guards since 2019, per PFF.
There's nothing about this trade that makes sense for the Patriots. Mason doesn't have an exorbitant salary. He's still young. And he's playing at a high level. Quality interior offensively linemen are invaluable.
The headlines for Tampa Bay this offseason will focus on Tom Brady (rightfully so) and the extensions of wide receiver Chris Godwin and cornerback Carlton Davis. But the addition of Mason is just as noteworthy as any non-Brady-related moves.
It just got a lot harder to sack Brady. And the Patriots' offensive line got worse when that didn't have to be the case.
It's not often that Bill Belichick and the Patriots look silly. But Tampa Bay managed to get one over this week on one of the greatest head coaches of all time.
Featured image via Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
