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 $1.13MM 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 October 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 $3.2MM available in cap space.
Translation: the Eagles are willing to part with a player that provides little value to their team. Virtually no trade value here,
Maybe they can trade him with a 7th round pick for a slightly higher 7th round pick
I feel like this game of chicken that they play with Barnett seemingly every season doesn’t help his trade value much. I don’t believe that any team thought to themselves “I really just don’t know if the Eagles are willing to trade Derek Barnett”.
Yeah, they’ve pretty much single-handedly crushed his trade value, but it isn’t like Barnett’s injury plagued 2022 season really helped either of them.
The Eagles are loaded with one of the best defensive lines in all of football. They have an incredible mixture of young, hungry, and extremely talented rising studs along with their experienced, hard-nosed veterans.
This combination makes for a rotation of talent unseen in the rest of the league. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are two of the most powerful and explosive, young interior defensive lineman in the league, and they are being mentored by one of the most underrated DTs of the past decade in Fletcher Cox.
All three combine to form one of the most dominant interiors in the NFL. No one wants to get hit by Davis, Carter, or Cox, and being tasked with blocking them all game is one of the worst assignments an IOL can draw. Just their combination of raw power, speed, and their quick twitch abilities for guys so big is incred8ble to watch.
For their defensive ends they have Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat. These are two excellent rushing ends, that are also capable run stoppers. Week in and week out, these two are about as consistent as it gets, and Sweat is really turning up the heat this year as he already has 5.5 sacks.
Then, at the SAM spot they have another rotation with already one of the games fastest EDGE rushers in Hassan Reddick, and one of the most physically gifted athletic specimens in the NFL in Nolan Smith. Reddick is the perfect teacher for Smith, and he’s already helped him tap into his immense potential this year. Smith was the heart and soul of the UGA defense for a few years, and was their unquestioned leader on and off the field. He was one of the best I’ve ever seen at setting the EDGE in the running game, and he rarely ever made any mistakes. He should be let free more often in Philly to go after the QB, and I expect Nolan to take FULL ADVANTAGE of the opportunities he’s getting.
It’s a very unique situation with what’s going on in Philly. Not only are they already extremely talented, but they drafted several players off the same legendary UGA defense, so these players are already plenty comfortable playing alongside one another. That makes for much easier communication, and it should help cut down on some of those rookie mistakes.
When it comes to their defensive front’s current ability, their potential, and just their overall talent and production, the Eagles are simply head and shoulders above everyone else in the NFL.
Your comment is longer than the story. Perhaps you should apply for a regular gig…
Read it, don’t read it lol…It’s all good brother.
I am sure this will sound pretty weird, but I write comments sometimes just for myself. Idk, I just find it therapeutic in a way, especially late at night when I can’t sleep.
Then, if someone else enjoys reading it, it’s a win-win.
Don’t judge, I have issues..lol I was the kid in college that forced the professor to put a maximum length limit on our papers. My last teacher told me, to chill out, and that she had better things to do than waste her life being forced to read and grade my 10 page novel, when everyone else only turned in a page or two…
I will say it was a pretty sound and advantageous strategy, because I never once received lower than an A on any paper I ever turned in. More than likely it was because the professor looked at it and was like I ain’t reading this nonsense, here’s an A…lol
I loved your comment, richardc, for my part. I thought that it was a great overview. Good points made.
Sherminator leaves good comments too, no disrespect to either of you. Maybe it’s a compliment.
Thanks bro, I appreciate your contributions on this site here as well.
Personally, I think the livelier the comment section, the more we can share viewpoints, knowledge, and just talk shop in general.
I definitely appreciate it though, I just try to share random thoughts and things I know and hope even if only one person finds it interesting or cool, then mission accomplished…
I’ve been a 49ers fan living in Georgia my entire life, but I’m also a UGA fan, so I have mixed feelings about the Eagles…Can’t help but to respect what they’re doing though.
Oh,Oh…If AK185 and richardc start exchanging viewpoints, it’s going to feel like we got a complimentary edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Lmao….Touche
We shall call it the RumorMill Almanac
I guess that’d make you Poor Richard?
Getting a box of jock straps would be a good trade for Barnett. Used ones even.
Barnett is just a guy. Every team already has equivalent talent on their roster.
Love how everyone is talking down on him and saying he’s worthless etc…
It’s not that we want him gone and want a 7th round pick cause I’m sure if that’s the case we will just keep him as depth. You need depth for a playoff run and Super Bowl push.
What it’s saying is if your a team looking out for help he is available. Really not that deep.