The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the most talented rosters in football, but the downside to all that skill is that some players just don’t have an opportunity to see the field. 2017 Super Bowl champion Derek Barnett is one such player, as the former first-round pick has reportedly requested a trade, and the Eagles have given him permission to look for a new team.
The #Eagles have granted permission to DE Derek Barnett to seek a trade partner, per @JFowlerESPN. The former first-round pick is stuck behind a logjam of pass-rushers. pic.twitter.com/D2SoJ9H0Dx
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 28, 2023
Barnett missed the vast majority of the 2022 season after tearing his ACL in Week 1. While he is back to full strength now, the Philadelphia Eagles added tons of talent along the defensive line between Barnett’s injury and today. Philadelphia has more pass rushers than they know what to do with, and teams all across the league are looking for guys capable of getting after the quarterback. Derek Barnett might not be a 10-sack guy, but he can collapse a pocket and hold his own against the run, and that gives him some trade value. So, who will actually pay up for the 27-year-old?
Top 5 Derek Barnett Trade Destinations, Ranked
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a perfect fit for a potential Derek Barnett trade. Chicago ranked dead last in sacks last year, and while they have bolstered their front seven over the past few months, there is still room for improvement. Barnett is entering the final “real” year of his contract (2024 is a void year), but the Bears have the cap space to sign the 27-year-old to a long-term deal if he plays well in 2023. The Bears aren’t quite ready to compete for a title yet, but Barnett could be one of the building blocks to bring this team back into contention.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have a serious issue on their defensive line. The team lost Frank Clark to the Denver Broncos and superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones isn’t coming back any time soon. The Chiefs are currently betting on the relatively untested duo of George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah to get after the quarterback, but they could use another proven commodity. A Derek Barnett trade would bring some much-needed stability to this front seven, which is exactly what this team needs as they try to defend their Super Bowl title.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders defense is a hot mess. Maxx Crosby is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, but the other 10 starters are not particularly great at their jobs. While you wouldn’t expect a team in transition like the Raiders to trade for a veteran, it’s worth noting that Josh McDaniels is on the hot seat. If the Raiders don’t start winning in 2023, he will not be around in 2024, so he’d probably be willing to trade a draft pick for Derek Barnett to try and find an adequate pass rusher opposite Crosby.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers had arguably the worst run defense in the league last year. While Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa are a great duo on paper, 2022 proved that this team needs more support on the edge. Injuries limited Bosa to just four games last year, and Mack started to show some signs of slowing down. Second-round pick Tuli Tuipulotu can help out in a reserve role, but Derek Barnett should make a more immediate impact for a team desperately trying to usurp the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
Baltimore Ravens
If the Baltimore Ravens felt good about their edge defenders, they wouldn’t have signed Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year contract. While the team has some talented youngsters in David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh, they lack a proven commodity that can provide a high floor. Derek Barnett provides that security, and it shouldn’t cost too much to trade for his services.
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Main Photo: Kim Klement – USA Today Sports
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