Derek Barnett wants a new beginning after spending six years with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Barnett's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is reportedly "gauging the market" for his client in an effort to find opportunities for Barnett to have more playing time elsewhere, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Fowler points out that while the Eagles intend to keep Barnett, they are aware that their depth at the edge rusher position restricts Barnett's playing time.
Barnett, the No. 14 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, has played in 65 regular-season games with the Eagles, starting 45 of them. The Tennessee native's most productive season was in 2019, when he recorded 22 quarterback hits and 6.5 sacks.
After tearing his ACL during Philadelphia's season opener against the Detroit Lions, Barnett was placed on injured reserve for the duration of the 2022 campaign.
In Barnett's absence, the Eagles pass-rush didn't lose a beat. Haason Reddick, a Second-Team All-Pro selection, Brandon Graham, a 14-year veteran, and Josh Sweat, a former Pro Bowler,
were the defensive standouts for Philadelphia in 2022, when the team's defense recorded an NFL-high 70 sacks, 15 more than any other team.
Despite the unit's phenomenal productivity, the Eagles decided to choose Georgia edge Nolan Smith with their second first-round pick in 2023, casting more doubt on Barnett's position in Philadelphia's rotation.
Arch Manning has not clinched Texas' backup quarterback position.