Eagles 'open' to trading former first-rounder

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles could be 'surprise sellers' at deadline, 'open' to trading former first-rounder

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 10/28/23

Tied for the best record in the NFL (6-1) and recently acquiring All-Pro safety Kevin Byard from the Tennessee Titans, the Philadelphia Eagles look like anything but sellers with the trade deadline looming. Yet, that sentiment doesn't ring true when it pertains to all players on the roster.

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Eagles could be "a surprise seller" when it comes to the availability of edge-rusher Derek Barnett.

Selected No. 14 overall in 2017, Barnett has endured an up-and-down six-and-a-half-year run in Philadelphia, bouncing in and out of the pass-rushing rotation. This season, Barnett has been an utter afterthought, logging just 92 defensive snaps.

Philadelphia previously granted Barnett permission to seek a trade in August. While no deal materialized, Breer notes that the organization remains "open" to parting ways with Barnett at the deadline.

Barnett, 27, has recorded 21.5 sacks over his career, posting at least 5.0 sacks in three separate seasons. While not the game-changing presence the Eagles hoped for when they drafted him, Barnett would be a serviceable rotational piece for a contending squad looking for added juice off the edge.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders are two teams that remain in the playoff hunt despite ranking within the bottom 12 of sacks this season. No Jaguars player beyond Josh Allen (7.0) has amassed more than 2.5 sacks this year. Similarly, Maxx Crosby's 6.5 sacks are 5.5 more than any other player on the Raiders roster.

As far as a sleeper team goes, keep an eye on the San Francisco 49ers. While the Niners continue to boast one of the league's premier defensive units, they've been relatively underwhelming in the sack department this season. Through seven games, they've racked up a modest 15 total sacks (tied for 12th-fewest in the NFL).

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