Former Tennessee football star Derek Barnett is eyeing a move away from Philadelphia. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Barnett and his agent are gauging interest from other teams and are eying a franchise he can earn more consistent playing time.
#Eagles DE Derek Barnett, through agent Drew Rosenhaus, is gauging the market for the potential to play more elsewhere, per sources. Philly plans to keep Barnett but understands a deep pass-rush roster limits playing time. The 2017 first-round pick should have trade value. pic.twitter.com/lq4KrNNFsC
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 28, 2023
Barnett has spent the entirety of six-year professional career with Philadelphia after the Eagles drafted him with the 14th overall pick of the 2017 draft.
After playing five years on his rookie contract, Barnett signed a three-year, $15.2 million contract extension to stay with Philadelphia.
But things went awry for Barnett in his first game after signing the contract. The defensive end tore his ACL in the first game of the 2022 season and Philadelphia’s pass rush didn’t skip a beat with players stepping up and helping propel the Eagles’ defense to one of the NFL’s best.
More From RTI: Florida Roundtable Predicts Tennessee To Take A Step Back
Now back from injury, Barnett would have a role on Philadelphia’s defense but isn’t in line to be an Eagles’ starter. The Brentwood, Tennessee native hopes to find a new home with a more prominent role awaiting him.
Barnett enters his seventh NFL season with 147 total tackles, 21.5 total sacks and three forced fumbles. The former first round pick’s best season was 2019 when he recorded 25 tackles, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Barnett is one of the best defenders in Tennessee football history. He broke Reggie White’s career sack record, totaling 32 sacks in his three-year college career.
The midstate native made an immediate impact as a freshman at Tennessee recording nine or more sacks in all three seasons. Barnett’s totaled 56 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in 2016, earning consensus All-American honors.
Barnett was dominant in 2016 wins over Florida and Georgia— the two best of the Butch Jones era.
