Eagles Waive Former First-round Pick Derek Barnett

He went from rotational edge rusher to inactive and now off the team.

The Eagles on Friday released one-time first-round pick Derek Barnett, who had just 21½ sacks in 73 career games and none in his last 15 games.

The team released the following statement: “The Eagles organization would like to thank Derek for his contributions to this team over the past seven seasons. As a rookie, Derek made one of the most memorable plays in our Super Bowl victory over the Patriots. “He was a great teammate who always played with a lot of energy and effort. We wish Derek nothing but the best.”

Barnett, the 14th pick in the 2017 draft, had 5.0 sacks as a rookie and it was Barnett who recovered Tom Brady’s fumble – forced by Brandon Graham – in the closing minutes of Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis.

Barnett added 6½ sacks in 2019 and 5½ sacks in 2020, but had just 2.0 in 2021, missed most of last year with a torn ACL and was a non-factor this year, appearing in 99 snaps no sacks and no quarterback hits, hurries or pressures scored over eight games.

The Eagles have really tried to get production out of Barnett as a rotational edge rusher this year. He played 14 defensive snaps per game during the Jets game, then just seven each against the Dolphins and Washington.

Barnett was then inactive for the game against Dallas and was held out of the Chiefs game for personal reasons. For personal reasons, he missed training on Wednesday and Thursday again this week.

Although there is no official connection between Barnett’s dwindling playing time and missing training and a game for personal reasons and the subsequent publicity, it seems very likely.

The Eagles signed Barnett to a two-year, $14 million contract before the 2022 season and then restructured him before this season, increasing his base from $7.5 million with $1.5 million guaranteed to 3, Reduced to $5 million with full warranty.

Barnett’s 21½ sacks are the 13th fewest in NFL history for a defensive end taken in the top half of the first round who has played at least 70 games.

According to ESPN’s NFL contract specialist Field Yates, if a team were to claim Barnett, it would owe him less than $500,000 for the remainder of the season.

Despite being in his seventh season, Barnett is only 27 years old and won’t turn 28 until next June.

With Barnett gone, the remaining edge rushers on the roster are starters Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat, as well as Brandon Graham, rookie Nolan Smith and Patrick Johnson. Tarron Jackson, a 2021 sixth-round pick of the Eagles, is on the practice squad.

With Barnett no longer here, only six players remain from the 2017 Super Bowl team – Brandon Graham, Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, Lane Johnson, Rick Lovato and Jake Elliott.