The Eagles have already made the most impactful move of the year on the trade front so far by acquiring safety Kevin Byard from the Titans. Philadelphia could be parting ways with one notable defender just as another settles in, however.
The defending NFC champions are “open” to trading defensive end Derek Barnett ahead of the upcoming deadline, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. The Eagles have an abundance of wealth on the edge, and the 27-year-old has been connected to trade talk in the past. As a result, it would not come as a complete surprise to see him moved in the near future.
Barnett was allowed to explore a trade this past summer, knowing he was likely to have a reduced workload compared to seasons past. Given that 2023 is the final year of his contract — one which he agreed to restructure in a move which amounted to a pay cut in terms of his maximum earnings — a trade clearing a path to more playing time would have been reasonable. One did not materialize ahead of the campaign, but Barnett could be a low-cost add for teams seeking pass rush depth.
The former first-rounder was limited to just one game in 2022 due to an ACL tear. He has managed to stay healthy through all seven games so far this season, but he has logged a defensive snap share of just 21%. That career-low figure (for full campaigns) has contributed to Barnett’s low statistical output: three tackles and zero sacks or QB pressures. After the leading the league in sacks last season, Philadelphia currently sits with third with 24, so moving on from Barnett would not leave the team shorthanded along the defensive front.
The changes to his contract leave the Tennessee product with a base salary of just $1.13M for this season; an acquiring team would be responsible for a prorated portion of that figure. Trading Barnett would incur a slight net loss in cap space this season for the Eagles, though the opposite is true for 2024, a void year in his pact. A change of scenery could set up an uptick in usage and production, and thus boost his stock ahead of free agency.
Barnett was a consistent contributor to the Eagles’ edge contingent prior to his ACL injury. He recorded at least five sacks in three of his first four seasons, but he has not been able to sustain that production since. Plenty would need to change on Philadelphia’s depth chart — which includes the likes of Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham and first-round rookie Nolan Smith — for Barnett’s current playing time situation to change.
The latter will thus be a name to watch in advance of the Oct. 31 trade deadline. As Breer notes, the Eagles may very well be involved in other moves as they look to repeat their postseason run from last season, and further additions would come as little surprise. Philadelphia currently has $3.2M available in cap space.
More must-reads: