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Derek Barnett, former Tennessee DE, claimed off waivers by AFC South team
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Derek Barnett has a new NFL home after being waived by his previous team, the Philadelphia Eagles.
On Monday, the Houston Texans claimed the former 1st-round pick off waivers, cutting kicker Matt Ammendola to make room for the 7th-year defensive back out of Tennessee.
Barnett was the 14th overall pick by the Eagles in the 2017 NFL Draft and posted a career-high 6.5 sacks with them in 2019. However, he suffered a torn ACL in 2022, months after signing a 2-year contract extension, and was ultimately waived on Thursday before being claimed by the Texans.
The 27-year-old was a standout defensive lineman in Knoxville before coming to the NFL, posting 198 tackles, 33.0 sacks, and 52 tackles for a loss. In 2016, he recorded 13.0 sacks, 19 TFLs, an interception, and 2 forced fumbles en route to 1st-team All-SEC honors.
With the Eagles, he totaled 150 tackles and 21.5 sacks across 7 seasons, playing in 73 games and starting 45. However, he hadn’t started a game since 2021.
Houston is 6-5 following a 24-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. It next hosts the Denver Broncos.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
