Patriots trade lineman Shaq Mason to Buccaneers, reuniting with Tom Brady
Shaq Mason is reuniting with Tom Brady.
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots agreed to trade Mason to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan. In return, the Patriots are set to receive a fifth-round draft pick.
BREAKING: #Patriots RG Shaq Mason is being traded to the Bucs, per source.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) March 15, 2022
The move will create about $7 million in cap space for the Patriots.
Mason had two years left on his five-year, $45 million deal he signed with the Patriots. The Buccaneers will assume the $16 million left on that deal.
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Mason was first selected by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, and has played there ever since. He started in 15 games last season, and has started in at least 10 games every season since he entered the league. The 28-year-old won a pair of Super Bowls alongside Brady in New England, too.
The Buccaneers lost a pair of key offensive lineman this offseason already, after Ali Marpet retired and Alex Cappa signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. With Brady now back from his short-lived retirement, Mason should help the Buccaneers’ offensive line significantly this fall. And thanks to Belichick and his former team, Brady has another familiar face on his offense to work with.
