Report: Shaq Mason Traded to Buccaneers from Patriots; Reunited with Tom Brady

According to multiple reports, the New England Patriots are trading guard Shaq Mason to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a fifth-round pick.

Greg Auman @gregauman

Bucs giving up a fifth-rounder for Mason, will assume final two years of his contract, paying $16 million. https://t.co/EvnABIvjvN

Alex Cappa and Ali Marpet retired from the guard position, and Mason will help replenish it.

That trade, along with the signings of players like center Ryan Jensen and wideout Russell Gage in free agency, should make Tom Brady happy.

Michael David Smith @MichaelDavSmith

This is undoubtedly the kind of move Tom Brady wanted the Bucs to make when he decided to come back. He doesn't want some fifth-round rookie with potential. He wants someone who can help him win now. He likes Mason from their time together in New England. https://t.co/BSTnKOXR0Z

The deal will free up cap space for the Pats, but it will also raise questions about their depth on the offensive line.

Jeff Howe @jeffphowe

By trading Mason, the Patriots freed $7M in cap space. They also take on $3.15M in dead money. Bucs will take on $6.5M in base salary and $1M in roster bonuses in 2022 and up to $8.875M in 2023. https://t.co/Zi6S1lG1i2

Alex Barth @RealAlexBarth

The Patriots open a significant amount of cap space by moving Shaq Mason. Could be a sign that there are more deals coming.

Jeff Howe @jeffphowe

Curious where Patriots go from here. They've created cap space, which was necessary, but have now lost Shaq Mason and Ted Karras. Mike Onwenu could take over at either guard spot. Lots of unanswered questions on the line in front of Mac Jones, magnified by the staff turnover.

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer

Shaq Mason and Ted Karras logged combined 28 starts on the Patriots OL last year. New England's incumbent right tackle, Trent Brown, is also a free agent. And the team has lost 3 OL coaches (Scarnecchia, Bricillo, Popovich) in 3 years.

Lots of turnover in front of Mac.

Brady and Mason won two Super Bowl titles together. He has played in at least 14 games in every year of his career.

He played some of his best football at right guard and was graded as the 35th best player in football by Pro Football Focus. Mason was 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 He allowed 16 pressures across 589 pass-blocking snaps despite blocking for a rookies passer, despite recording an 87.2 run-blocking grade this season.

Greg Auman @gregauman

Pro Football Focus had new Bucs guard Shaq Mason as their No. 4 guard last year in overall rating. By comparison, they had Ali Marpet 7th, Alex Cappa 18th. Definitely fills a key need on offensive line tasked with protecting Tom Brady at age 45 this season.

NFL Philosophy @NFLosophy

Even Madden would laugh at you if you tried to trade a 5th for Shaq Mason.

That makes his acquisition a bargain for the title-chasing Bucs, especially since they don't have a lot of depth at guard. Brady is almost certain to approve.