Eagles waiving DE Derek Barnett

The Eagles waived former first-round pick Derek Barnett Friday.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news. The Eagles did not immediately confirm the report.

The 27-year-old defensive end was the 14th pick in the 2017 draft. He had five sacks as a rookie and recovered Tom Brady’s fumble forced by Brandon Graham in the final minutes of Super Bowl 52. The Eagles signed Barnett to a two-year, $14 million contract before the 2022 season and then restructured it before this season, reducing his $7.5 million base with $1.5 million guaranteed to $3.5 million fully guaranteed.

Barnett had 6.5 sacks in 2019 and 5.5 in 2020 but had just two in 2021, missed most of last season with a torn ACL, and did nothing this year with no sacks, quarterback hits, hurries, or pressures in 99 snaps over eight games. He had only 21.5 sacks in 73 career games and none in his last 15 games.

The Eagles tried to get production out of Barnett as a rotational edge rusher this year. He had snaps against the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and the Washington Commanders. Barnett was then inactive against the Dallas Cowboys and was ruled out of the Kansas City Chiefs game on Monday night for personal reasons. He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday this week again for personal reasons.

Barnett this season went from rotational edge rusher to inactive and now to off the team.