3 reasons Jacksonville Jaguars should be all in on Derek Barnett after his release
• The Jaguars have tried to bolster their pass rush
• They might as well kick the tires on Barnett
The Jacksonville Jaguars have tried numerous times to upgrade their pass rush but ultimately fell short every single time. They'll have one more chance now that defensive end Derek Barnett is available.
The Philadephia Eagles just released Barnett. He'll be subject to waivers, and the Jags should most definitely put a claim on him. Earlier this year, Barnett was the subject of trade talks. His agent reportedly "gauged the market for the potential to play somewhere else." Ultimately, Barnett stayed put but he's not gotten much playing time in 2023, the reason he wanted to be traded. In fact, he was inactive in Weeks 9 and 11.
The former Tennessee Vol is expected to be in demand, and rightly so. A first-round pick in 2017, he's not a top-tier pass rusher but would be a solid addition to a rotation. He hasn't recorded a sack the past two years but had 21.5 from 2017 to 2021. So why should the Jaguars go after Barnett? Here are three reasons why.
3. The Jaguars wouldn't have to give up any compensation to land Derek Barnett
The Jaguars have previously shown interest in trading for a handful of pass rushers but couldn't land one. Whatever the price was, it looks like the front office wasn't willing to meet it. That won't be the case with Derek Barnett.
If he's claimed off waivers, whoever gets him will pick up his remaining salary for the 2023 season. None of it is guaranteed, so the Jags could easily move on from him if things don't work out. His contract is set to expire in 2024, so this could turn out to be a low-risk one-year rental for the Jaguars.