Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett, represented by agent Drew Rosenhaus, is exploring the possibility of playing more with another team. Barnett's agent is gauging the market to see if there might be opportunities for Barnett to have a larger role elsewhere. However, the Eagles are reportedly planning to retain Barnett, even though they understand that their deep pass-rush roster could limit his playing time.
Barnett, 27, was drafted by the Eagles as the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has accumulated 21.5 sacks over six seasons with the team. His most productive season was in 2019 when he recorded 6.5 sacks, 22 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.
He suffered a torn ACL in Week 1 of the previous season but has since fully participated in training camp. If Barnett remains with the Eagles, he is likely to have a rotational role in the edge-rush group, which includes other defensive ends like Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat, as well as outside linebackers Haason Reddick and Nolan Smith.
Teams are required to trim their rosters to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Despite the potential for limited playing time, the Eagles seem inclined to retain Barnett, though he is exploring his options to potentially find a more prominent role with another team.