Report: Philadelphia Eagles waiving Derek Barnett

The Philadelphia Eagles opted to waive former first-round draft pick Derek Barnett on Friday after seven seasons, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. Barnett requested a trade from the Eagles earlier this season due to his reduced playing time, however, a trade never materialized.

The former Vol has spent his entire professional career, starting in 2017, with Philadelphia. However, after starting 15 games in 2021, he tore his ACL in 2022 and only appeared in one game.

Over the course of his career, Barnett has 21.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss. This season, he’s posted just three tackles, including one tackle for loss, in eight games played.

A first-round pick in 2017, Barnett had another season left on his contract with the Eagles. He signed a three-year deal for $15.21 million in March of 2022. Now a free agent, Barnett is free to sign with a new team for the first time in his career.

Even without the former star’s contributions this season, the Eagles are leading the league with a 9-1 record. Linebacker Haason Reddick and edge rusher Josh Sweat lead the Philadelphia defense with 8.5 and 6.5 sacks apiece, respectively.

Colts move on from Shaq Leonard

Last week, the Colts opted to move on from one of their early-round draft picks, former All-Pro linebacker Darius Shaquille Leonard.

Leonard was waived following frustrations with the team regarding his playing time, with Pro Football Reference revealing that he only played in 70% of the team’s defensive snaps when active this season. This year for Indianapolis he recorded 65 tackles in his nine-game appearances.

“Indy, I want to thank you for accepting me and my family with open arms,” Leonard wrote in his farewell message. “These past six years has been nothing but incredible! Through the good times and bad time y’all stood by my side.

“I apologize for not bringing that trophy back to the 317. The energy at Lucas Oil has been nothing but amazing and I thank you for every memory. I’m thankful to play for such an amazing fan base. I love you guys and wish the Colts nothing but the best!” 

The Colts selected him with the No. 36 overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, Leonard led the entire NFL in tackles with a career-high 163 tackles adding seven sacks, two interceptions, and four forced fumbles to his stat line.

He’d go on to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018 and earn First-Team All-Pro honors, which he’d go on to achieve two more times in his career along with a Second-Team selection and three Pro Bowl appearances.

On3’s Kaiden Smith contributed to this report.