Eight-year veteran edge defender Derek Barnett has signed a new contract with the Houston Texans. Barnett, a former first-round pick and one-time Super Bowl champion, spent the 2024 season with the Houston Texans but has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The #Texans are re-signing DE Derek Barnett to a one-year, $5M deal
Great depth back in Houston. pic.twitter.com/BiEMVeoU1D
— Nick Schwager (@NickSchwagerNFL) March 10, 2025
Derek Barnett, Houston Texans, Agree to Contract
The Houston Texans had one of the leagues deepest group of pass rushers in 2024, and Derek Barnett played a large role in that success. Appearing in 16 games, the edge defender finished the season with five sacks, 26 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, seven quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles. He also recovered two fumbles and returned both of them for touchdowns. With his help, Houston made the playoffs but ultimately fell to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Derek Barnett originally entered the league as a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Tennessee product spent most of his rookie season contributing in a situational role. Appearing in 15 games, Barnett finished his inaugural season with five sacks, 21 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, and 16 quarterback hits. Philadelphia, of course, won the Super Bowl that season, defeating the New England Patriots to hoist their first Lombardi.
After an injury-plagued 2018, Barnett earned a full-time starting role in 2019. Playing up to his draft capital, the former first-round pick recorded 6.5 sacks, 30 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, and 22 quarterback hits.
Derek Barnett continued to be a solid, if unspectacular, starter and earned a two-year contract extension prior to the start of the 2022 season. Unfortunately, this backfired immediately, as the veteran tore his ACL in Week 1. While he returned in 2023, Barnett’s playing time dropped dramatically.
The Eagles ultimately chose to release the disgruntled playmaker midway through the 2023 season. Helping Houston win the AFC South with a rookie C.J. Stroud, Barnett recorded 2.5 sacks, 19 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, and eight quarterback hits in six games with his new team.
Main Photo: Kevin Jaraj – Imagn Images
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