“We thought he could add extra pass rush for sure,” Bowles stated via the team website. “We believed he could contribute additional knowledge. Earlier in the season, we faced challenges getting to the passer from the outside. We felt he still had plenty of energy left to assist us in making a run. The communication between me and [GM] Jason [Licht] was consistent throughout; it was simply a matter of Miami taking the necessary steps for us to have the opportunity to pursue him.”

Barrett may be eligible to play in Week 18 and could significantly impact the Buccaneers during the playoffs, though Bowles acknowledged that the veteran needs to acclimate.

“He retains a lot of the old information, but there’s a considerable amount of new material he needs to learn,” he explained, adding, “In today’s walkthrough, he performed outstandingly… He looked good running around. Over the weekend, he ran quite well. However, the real test comes when he puts on the helmet and pads.”