According to ‘QB Factory mastermind’ Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice, the Eagles are intending to pick up Derek Barnett’s fifth-year option.
This was an expected move after the team failed to really invest heavily at the DE position through the offseason. A seventh-round pick on Casey Toohill is all well and good, but what was once an elite spot of both depth and talent has now become a pool of questions to swim in. It at least implies a level of trust and confidence in their former first-round pick.
Barnett is still only 23-years old and his ceiling is still extremely high. The Eagles have a new defensive line coach in town now and his first priority should be ensuring Barnett is primed for another career year.
He’s missed 13 games out of a possible 48 and has never really been able to emerge as a consistent weapon off the edge. Barnett would often fade away as drives deepen before coming up with a play by being in the right spot at the right time.
In 2019, Barnett played the first 12 games but would miss the next two weeks with an ankle injury. He returned for the final two games of the regular season and played 53 snaps in the playoff game. He ended that campaign with 6.5 sacks.
The Eagles will be hoping for more out of Barnett during the 2021 season than they got from Nelson Agholor’s fifth-round option year.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
