Stream Draft Central | Draft Tracker
The Eagles nabbed one of the best pass-rushers in the draft on Thursday night.
Using the 14th overall pick, the Eagles took defensive end Derek Barnett out of Tennessee.
Barnett, 20, picked up 32 sacks during his time at Tennessee and showed he can consistently get to the quarterback, something the Eagles need desperately.
Sports
In partnership with NBC Sports Philadelphia
In 2016, the Eagles' entire defense was supposed to be predicated on getting to the quarterback without blitzing, but the front four had trouble. Now, two starters from a year ago - Connor Barwin and Bennie Logan - have moved on. Barnett, even if he doesn't start right away, will be thrown into the mix early.
"I think I'm a relentless ball player," Barnett said on Wednesday. "I don't give up on plays. I think I'm pretty consistent, too. I know how to get to the quarterback. Also, I can help the run there."
Barnett visited with the Eagles during the pre-draft process and said the team compared him to Terrell Suggs.
The thing that stands out about Barnett are his hands. They're elite and they're what allows him to be such a dynamic pass-rusher. Barnett said hand work is something his coaches at Tennessee harped on.
While at Tennessee, Barnett actually broke Reggie White's school sack record. Now, he's following his legacy to Philadelphia.
"My mindset going into a game was to be dominant," Barnett said. "If I'm dominant, everything will fall into place. I had that mindset when I came in as a freshman and before I knew it, I was breaking Reggie White's record. For my name to be in the same sentence as him, it's a blessing."
The last time the Eagles drafted a defensive end in the first round was in 2014, when they traded down and took Marcus Smith out of Louisville in a panic move. That obviously hasn't worked out very well.
The last time the Eagles drafted a defensive lineman this high was in 2012, when they took Fletcher Cox with the 12th pick. That obviously has worked out pretty darn well.
The Eagles were originally without a first-round draft choice this year, having sent it to the Browns last draft to move up to No. 2 and select Carson Wentz. But the Eagles were able to recoup a first-rounder when they traded Sam Bradford to the Vikings after Teddy Bridgewater's injury last summer.
At the combine in March, the Eagles won a coin toss against the Colts for the 14th pick. The Colts will pick 15th.
This was the highest draft pick the Eagles have had since they had No. 4 (Lane Johnson) in 2013. The last time they had the 14th pick, they took Brodrick Bunkley in 2006.
The Eagles still have seven picks remaining in this year's draft as Day 2 kicks off on Friday night. The team owns a pick in every remaining round, including two in the fourth.
