Browns are ideal for ‘Underrated’ $15 million pass rusher

The Cleveland Browns may be aggressive free agent shoppers, but the team will seek out discounts wherever they can be found.

One such possibility will arise with the free agency of pass-rusher Derek Barnett, a former Philadelphia Eagles first-round draft pick who spent last season with the Houston Texans.

On Sunday, February 18, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report claimed that Cleveland is an ideal fit for Barnett, whom he described as a “underrated veteran.”

Barnett went on a tear to finish the season, propelling the Texans to the playoffs and winning a [Wildcard] game. From Week 15 on, he recorded [2.5] sacks, eight quarterback knockdowns, and [11] total pressures.

The late-season drive enabled him to finish with a pressure rate of 16.0. For reference, Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., the Defensive Rookie of the Year, had a pressure percentage of 16.1, while Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones had a pressure rate of 15.7 percent.

The Cleveland Browns are facing a tight cap situation and may lose Za’Darius Smith to free agency, so they could be a good fit for Barnett.

Derek Barnett can offer the Cleveland Browns decent value at a premium position.

Philadelphia drafted Barnett with the 14th overall choice in 2017. He produced solid seasons with 5.0 sacks or more in three of his first four years in the NFL, but he never achieved enough to properly justify his selection position.

Barnett missed all but six games in 2018 and all but one regular-season game in 2022 due to a torn ACL. By the time he recovered to health, younger and more talented players had taken up his role as the primary edge-rusher, leading to his dismissal in November.
Ballentine praised Barnett’s ability as a run defender. That trait, combined with the pass-rushing skills he demonstrated down the stretch in 2023, and his age (27) should make him a potential for a team like the Browns, who require a competent edge rusher on a reasonable salary.

Barnett signed a three-year, $15.2 million contract with Philadelphia in March 2022. Following his release, he signed with the Texans for a basic salary of $1.08 million. Spotrac does not offer a projected market value for Barnett, but he should be available at a modest annual cost over a short-term contract that provides a low risk/high ceiling scenario for whichever organization eventually contracts him.
Playing along Myles Garrett may help revive Derek Barnett’s career.

Barnett will not need to put up monster numbers to effectively replace Smith if he leaves Cleveland in free agency. The three-time Pro Bowler had 5.5 sacks in Cleveland in 2023 after nearly doubling his total the previous season.

Barnett would also benefit from playing with reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett. Garrett saw more double teams than virtually any other defense in the league last season, yet he still finished with 14.0 sacks, bringing his total to 48 over the last three years (49 games).

There is no assurance that Barnett will flourish in Cleveland, but he is unlikely to get a better opportunity elsewhere given Garrett’s presence on the NFL’s top-ranked defense in 2023. As a result, the prospect of Barnett wearing a Browns uniform on an affordable contract in 2024 appears to be a win-win situation for all parties involved.