Philadelphia Eagles: Top three breakout candidates on defense
By David Esser
2017 first-round pick Derek Barnett is still looking for his first double-digit sack season.
If there was ever a time for Derek Barnett to breakout, it would be now.
Barnett was the Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick in 2017, and while he’s been good at times, he’s never really lived up to the expectations that usually come with a top 15 pick. Across three seasons and 35 career games, Barnett has recorded 14 sacks, 23 TFLs, and 49 quarterback hits. Barnett’s best season of his career came last year when he posted 6.5 sacks through 14 games.
Barnett has battled with a plethora of injuries during his career, and has yet to actually play a full 16 game season. Simply staying healthy and remaining on the field in 2020 will be the best way Barnett can make a greater impact.
Outside of his own personal injuries, Barnett has had to deal with a mish-mash of personnel changes on the defensive line around him. Malik Jackson appeared in just one game last year, both Chris Long and Michael Bennett departed after 2018, and Fletcher Cox has dealt with nagging injuries for years.
At a speedy 6-3 259lbs, Barnett was drafted to be the team’s primary pass rusher, and he’s really yet to fill that role effectively. However, heading into 2020 the stage finally looks set for the former Tennesse Volunteer to record a double-digit sack season.
Not only did the Eagles add another elite interior defensive lineman in Hargrave, but Brandon Graham is coming off one of the best years of his career. Combining those two with the dominance of Cox up the middle creates a scenario where Barnett may find himself as an “afterthought” to opposing offensive lines. This creates a scenario where he can finally get to the QB at a more consistent rate.
The Eagles opted to pick up Barnett’s $10 million fifth-year option this offseason, but the team can still opt out of it if they choose to do so. This really puts the pressure on Barnett to have a big year in 2020, or the front office may simply choose to use that money on a different edge rusher come next 2021.