2 Reasons Philadelphia Eagles could sign Barnett to an extension

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Derek Barnett #96 of the Philadelphia Eagles (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1. Just because the Philadelphia Eagles extend Barnett, that doesn’t mean they have to break the bank.

Here’s the all-important resume. Since his rookie season kicked off in 2017, Derek Barnett has worked his way into 72 total tackles, 15 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries (including one that came off of the greatest strip-sack in Super Bowl history), and a defensive touchdown over the course of 39 career games with 21 starts (if you include the playoffs).

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That isn’t earth-shattering from a first-round draftee’s perspective by any means, but it isn’t what the Eagles got from Shareef Miller either (which is nothing). To some, there’s a belief that the decision to exercise Barnett’s fifth-year option came too early, but here’s the thing. The NFL isn’t exactly overrun with an overabundance of elite young pass rushers. That’s why Jadeveon Clowney is getting so many looks. What gets overlooked is he’s more of a run stopper than a pass rusher.

If Barnett doesn’t develop into much more than he does now, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t represent any value. Perhaps it means the Eagles get him for the right price.

Maybe he isn’t “the guy”. Maybe his ceiling is being “the other guy”, but in a world where Clowney is overpriced, trades for Yannick Ngakoue will cost you more than you want to give up, and no one’s sure what Yetur Gross-Matos or A.J. Epenesa will become, signing Barnett for less than someone might have thought was possible three years ago might be the way to go. Hey, it worked with Vinny Curry (sometimes).

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