Derek Barnett poses for photographs after being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater in Philadelphia, PA on April 27, 2017. The 82nd NFL Draft returned to Philadelphia for the first time in more than 50 years and runs from April 27-29. Photo by Derik Hamilton/UPI |
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PHILADELPHIA -- Despite entering the draft with a ton of defensive needs, including cornerback, edge rusher and linebacker, the suspicion was that the Philadelphia Eagles would add one more offensive chess piece around their young quarterback, Carson Wentz, in Thursday night's first round before turning their attention to coordinator Jim Schwartz's defense.
But the early run on offensive players, particularly the top three wide receivers going among the first three picks, and the selection of running back Christian McCaffrey by the Carolina Panthers at No. 8 pretty much ended that.
So, the Eagles wound up going defense and taking Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett. It wasn't a sexy pick, but it was a necessary one. The pass rush is the key to Schwartz's wide-nine defensive scheme, and the Eagles' wasn't good enough last season.
Six games into the season, they were first in sacks per pass play and third in total sacks (20). But they ended up finishing in the middle of the pack in both categories. They had just 14 sacks in their final 10 games, seven of which they lost.
Barnett should help. He isn't an athletic freak like defensive end Myles Garrett, who was the first pick in the draft. He's more of an effort guy. But he broke Reggie White's all-time sack record at Tennessee.
"It's easy to watch Derek (on tape) and picture what he'd do in (Schwartz's) scheme," executive vice-president of football operations Howie Roseman said.
Vice-president of player personnel Joe Douglas, who spent 16 years as a scout with the Baltimore Ravens, sees a lot of Terrell Suggs in Barnett.
"Neither tested outrageously at the Combine or Pro Day," Douglas said. "But both are highly productive players, high toughness, great people. Again, his production is unmatched, breaking a Hall of Fame player's record at Tennessee."
Barnett will compete for playing time with the Eagles' other edge rushers - Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry and 32-year-old Chris Long, who signed with the Eagles last month. Schwartz likes to rotate eight players up front.
"What Derek is highly proficient at is at the top of his rush," Douglas said. "So when he gets to the top, he has excellent ankle flexion, excellent ability to bend at the top and finish.
"He can really close. And he uses a variety of moves. He uses a speed rush. He uses power. He can go speed to power on people. So, you're getting a guy that knows how to finish when he gets to the top of the rush."
