Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline will prompt buyers and sellers into either improving their odds to reach the playoffs or boost their chances at improving next year’s roster through the 2024 NFL Draft. The Philadelphia Eagles are firmly in the buyers category, but they may end up doing some selling too.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Eagles are open to trading seventh-year pro Derek Barnett. While it feels like Barnett has been in Philadelphia forever, the 14th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft is still just 27 years old, yet is in the final year of his contract.
With a cap hit of $5.49 million, Barnett wouldn’t cost a team in need of more pass-rushing depth much salary-wise, and being that his playing time has reduced, he likely wouldn’t cost anything more than a late-round draft pick either.
Barnett started 45 games between his second and fifth seasons with the team, but a torn ACL limited the Super Bowl winner to just one game in 2022. Still, despite playing in all seven games, Barnett has seen just 21 percent of the team’s defensive snaps this season.
With a loaded rotation of pass rushers, featuring starters Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick, plus Brandon Graham and first-round rookie Nolan Smith, the Eagles could likely afford to move on from Barnett, especially if a team is ready to offer him more playing time.
Related: NFL trade deadline: Rumors and news for each team heading into Tuesday