One familiar face from the Philadelphia Eagles‘ recent past is getting a primo chance to continue his NFL career.
“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 wrote on his official X account on Sunday morning. “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 … 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. Now, with the need even more pressing, they land former Eagles and Texans DE Derek Barnett.”
Eagles Used 1st-Round Pick on Barnett in 2017
Barnett, 6-foot-3 and 259 pounds, was a 1st-round pick (No. 17 overall) by the Eagles in the 2017 NFL Draft and won a Super Bowl as a rookie. He played for the Eagles until 2023.
“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 wrote on his official X account on Sunday. “The former first-round pick is back for Year 10, spent previous three years in Houston.”
“That stinks for Alex Wright,” Cleveland sports radio host Dan Menningen wrote on X on Sunday. “Such a talented guy. Hope for a smooth and fast recovery. Barnett is not as good as he used to be, but he is a proven guy who can get to the QB.”
“Such a shame for Alex Wright,” Locked on Browns host Spencer German wrote on his official X account on Sunday. “He was having a tremendous camp and seemed ready to shoulder more of the pass rush burden. Browns were already lacking edge depth. Now it’s a glaring issue even with Derek Barnett joining the fold.”
Derek Barnett Part of Famous Philly Sports Moment
Barnett likely still eats for free in Philadelphia thanks to 1 play in his rookie year — when he recovered a fumble by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the 4th quarter of Super Bowl LII after a sack and forced fumble by Eagles edge rusher Brandon Graham.
The fumble recovery sealed the franchise’s 1st Super Bowl win.
“The Eagles have waived Derek Barnett after seven seasons with the team,” The Score’s Brenden Deeg wrote on his official X account in November 2023. “His fumble recovery in the Super Bowl will never be forgotten.”
Former Eagles 1st-Round Pick & Super Bowl Hero Signs With Browns