It's 2022 now, which means we can finally turn the page (contract wise) from the idea that Derek Barnett is a disappointing first round pick, which he was, to the idea that Derek Barnett was a ridiculous steal as a free agent. To recap, Barnett signed a two year, $14 million deal to stay with the team. Here's the justification for my enthusiasm:
Philly needed rotational depth at DE; beyond the two starters (Graham and Sweat), they had Tarron Jackson... and that's it. The rest of the depth chart is basically comprised of overhang linebackers.
Barnett is a knucklehead ("It's always him!"), but it's only fair to point out that his most important job is harassing the QB, and he does this at an above average rate. He ranked 7th in the league in ESPN's Pass Rush Win Rate statistic, which does not account for double teams but also does not account for Barnett's impact as a run defender. In the four seasons that Pro Football Reference tracked both snap counts and QB pressures (sacks + knockdowns + hurries), Barnett produced a pressure 3.67% of the time. For context, Brandon Graham produced a 3.77% pressure rate over that same period. Josh Sweat, excluding his rookie year, produced a 3.78% pressure rate. Haason Reddick produced a 3.88% pressure rate over the last two seasons (where his teams finally made him a pass rush specialist). Barnett has produced 95-98% of the production of the other rushers.
The costs of current contracts are always difficult to measure, especially with the Eagles and the games they play with the cap, but as best as I can figure it, here are the average annual costs for the four players we mentioned above:
Reddick: $15,000,000 AAV
Graham: $9,303,000 AAV
Sweat: $7,870,350 AAV
Barnett: $7,000,000 AAV
Barnett is making 75-89% of his fellow DE's contract value, and of course less than half of what Reddick will make each year of his deal. My conclusion from all of this; despite his limitations and issues, Derek Barnett was a really solid signing, relative to his contract and what will be asked of him as a non-starting rotational player. How often do you see a starting caliber pass rusher in his prime sign for less that starting caliber money? I think we'll look back on this as a good move in a couple years.
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