The Houston Texans could see another old friend in Derek Barnett when they take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 10 this coming season.
“Defensive end Derek Barnett is signing with the Cleveland Browns on a one-year deal up to $5.5M, per source,” ESPN”s Jeremy Fowler reported in a post on X on August 23, including a picture of the veteran in a Texans uniform.
“The former first-round pick is back for Year 10, spent previous three years in Houston.”
The former first-round pick is back for Year 10, spent previous three years in Houston.
Barnett, 30, was a first-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles inn 2017. He tallied 66 total tackles and 12.5 sacks in his three seasons with the Texans. He started five of 39 games played.
For his career, he has 216 total tackles 34.0 sacks, and has started 50 of 112 appearances.
Former Texans DE Derek Barnett Replacing Jadeveon Clowney’s Ex-Teammate
GettyDerek Barnett has gone from the AFC South to the AFC North.
The Browns are in need of help at EDGE after injuries added insult to their trading Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, albeit for a Pro Bowler in Jared Verse.
Jadeveon Clowney also chose the Texans over Cleveland, making Barnett their fallback choice.
“ESPN sources: The Browns are placing starting DE Alex Wright on season-ending injured reserve with a ruptured Achilles, and they now will sign former first-round pick DE Derek Barnett,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X on August 23.
“Wright was carted off the practice field Thursday after getting hurt during a one-on-one drill with Bills OT Spencer Brown. Tests later revealed a season-ending ruptured Achilles.”
Schefter continued, noting the impact of missing out on Clowney.
“The Browns already had been looking for pass rush help before the Alex Wright injury, bringing in Jadeveon Clowney and Za’Darius Smith, but both signed elsewhere,” Schefter said in a follow-up post, adding, “Now, with the need even more pressing, they land former Eagles and Texans DE Derek Barnett.”
Derek Barnett No Longer an Option for Houston
GettyA return to Houston is off the table for Derek Barnett, at least for now.
Barnett won a Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2018. His name floated about for the Texans before they added Dominique Robinson, Logan Hall, and, of course, Clowney. The latter will likely be DE3 behind Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
Notably, Clowney and Hall missed practice on Saturday.
Neither absence was due to a reported injury, though. So, it remains to be seen if this is a new concern for the Texans.
Clowney has battled injuries throughout his career, and Hall missed time during the Texans’ offseason program. Their statuses are key. The Texans’ other reserves–Robinson, Dylan Horton, and Solomon Byrd–have not generated a consistent pass rush in their preseason reps.
In Cleveland, Barnett reunites with former Texans teammate Tytus Howard, whom Houston traded this offseason, as well as ex-franchise QB Deshaun Watson, who was deal away in 2022.
12.5-Sack Former Texans Defensive Lineman Finds New Home With AFC Rival