3 reasons Jacksonville Jaguars should be all in on Derek Barnett after his release

2. Jaguars HC Doug Pederson knows Derek Barnett from his time with the Eagles

It's kind of easy to see why the Eagles moved on from Derek Barnett. Besides his lack of production, there was no room for him with Fletcher Cox, Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, and Jalen Carter in the fold. Simply Philly saw no benefit in keeping Bernett around and decided to move on from him.

Although he wouldn't have a feature role in Jacksonville, he could give their pass-rush rotation a role. Leaving aside the fact that adding Barnett wouldn't be cost-prohibitive, his familiarity with head coach Doug Pederson is another reason should go after him.

Pederson was the head coach of the Eagles when they drafted Barnett 14th overall in 2017. At the time, they said the defensive end was the top-rated player on their draft board, noting that he was a fit in their scheme and a player to build around. Then vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas, now the general manager of the New York Jets, became impressed with Barnett during the draft process, praising him for his first step and finishing plays.

Although Barnett didn't become the building block the Eagles thought they were getting, he wasn't a slouch either. Pederson knows what kind of player he is, what he brings to the table, and how to get the most out of him, having him coached for four years.

In Jacksonville, Barnett would get a fresh start with someone he's familiar with, which makes the Jaguars a good fit for him.