Eagles select Derek Barnett in first round of 2017 NFL Draft
By Ryan Quigley
Welcome to the Philadelphia Eagles, Derek Barnett!
The months of speculation have finally come to an end. With the No. 14 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles have selected Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett!
While some may not be thrilled with this pick, Barnett is a terrific selection for the Eagles. With Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry and the newly acquired Chris Long already on the roster, Philadelphia now has a solid crop of edge rushers.
Earlier this month, we named Barnett as one of five players worthy of the Eagles’ No. 14 overall selection. In three seasons at Tennessee, Barnett set a school record with 33 career sacks. Who did he surpass to break that record? Only the Minister of Defense himself, Reggie White. That’s kind of impressive.
Here is a scouting report on Barnett, courtesy of NFL.com.
"STRENGTHS: Championship hand fighter on college level. Hands are strong, fast, efficient and lethal. Punch-and-discard winner. As rusher, swats are well-timed discarding tackle’s punch attempt. Attacks the edge with good forward lean and works hands and feet in harmony on road to the quarterback. Uses jab steps and lateral movement to search for the edge of the blocker. Has leverage and strength to play right through redirects. Elite production on par with former Vol and Hall of Famer Reggie White against run and as sack artist. Not content to just set the edge — wants to make the play. Uses hand fighting and play strength to work through leverage points. Long strider who can crash down the line to challenge gap plays if unblocked. Punishing hitter. Delivers crushing tackles and sacks when given the opportunity. Hustle player who pursues the play with intent. Rag-dolls tight ends at point of attack. Plus field awareness recognizing play-action, reverses, and screens. Fluid enough to drop into space and play some zone.WEAKNESSES: Admitted slow starter who has had issues with sluggishness to start a season. Will overthink it at times rather than just reacting. Can be undisciplined with guessing snap count and taking penalties. Change-of-direction issues typical of a broad-waisted big man. Struggles to redirect movements suddenly once momentum starts rolling downhill. Quarterbacks with pocket mobility can elude him. Substantially more twitch in hands than in feet. Feet are average. Initial burst upfield is average. Times snap count to help with his get-off. Aggressive forward charge opens him up to cut blocks. Long stride creates base inconsistencies at point of attack. Length is a concern. Can he still win without decisive, early victories with his hands? Loops to quarterback are rounded and might need a winning, inside counter move as a pro."
The Eagles still have seven picks remaining in the 2017 NFL Draft. Stay with Inside the Iggles for more updates and analysis.