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NFL.com: A

Even though the Eagles gave up their 2017 first-rounder for quarterback Carson Wentz, they were a beneficiary of Minnesota’s need for a quarterback, as they got back into the first round by trading Sam Bradford last eyar. The way Wentz played this year showed they didn’t really miss Bradford. They got the second-best pure edge rusher in the draft in Barnett at No. 14.

SB Nation: B-

If the Eagles were after production, they got it with Barnett. Philadelphia is stacking defensive linemen who can get after the quarterback with Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Timmy Jernigan. The four man rush in Philadelphia will improve the team’s pass coverage. The only knock is that Barnett isn’t the cornerback the Eagles desperately need, and there are a bunch available.


USA Today: B

Barnett had more sacks than Garrett over the last two seasons, but he does not have the potential the top pick in the draft possesses. What he does have is tremendous burst off the snap. Just what the Eagles defense needed.

Walter Football: B

This pick is perfectly fine. Some had Derek Barnett as high as No. 9, but he was slotted in the mid-teens in most places. I had him falling to No. 22, but that was worst-case scenario for Barnett. The Tennessee product is a very talented edge rusher, but didn’t test very well. That could remind the Eagles of Brandon Graham. The two are very similar, and Philadelphia had to find an upgrade across from Graham. However, there were better prospects available like Jonathan Allen, Malik Hooker and O.J. Howard. Still, this is a solid pick, and I don’t have any issues with it otherwise.

SI.com: B

This is a good pick. It’s a relatively safe pick. It does not address the Eagles’ biggest need, which is at cornerback, and it also ignores a couple players who slipped down the board. The real positive is in pairing Barnett’s skill off the edge with Jim Schwartz’s scheme. Barnett can line up wide and worry about little else beyond penetrating into the backfield, which is exactly the type of role that should play to his strengths as a pass rusher. Brandon Graham, Chris Long and Barnett make for a talented DE trio from which Schwartz should be able to find a lot of sacks.

CBS Sports: A

Love this pick. They might be getting the best pass rusher in this draft.

Bleacher Report: A-

Barnett is a better all-around defender and safer choice than many other big-name edge-rushers on the draft board, like Taco Charlton and Takkarist McKinley. Somewhere between overrating him because of a record and underrating him because he lacks fizzy “upside,” the Eagles got this selection just right.

No, Philly Phaithful: He’s not Reggie White. But there are Mike Mamulas lurking in this draft, and Barnett is not that, either. He’ll fit the system, upgrade the pass rush, and not get pushed around when the Cowboys start running in his direction 40 times per game.

NJ.com: B

The decision to pick Barnett was certainly not an exciting or splashy one.

The Eagles are building on the defensive line for the future by selecting Barnett, as he might not start next season and will be competing for playing time. There is a chance that three players at defensive end play more than Barnett does.

In the long run, however, the Eagles’ lack of a pass rusher was an issue.

Yahoo! Sports: B+

The Joe Douglas effect has already hit the Eagles’ draft. The team’s first-year college scouting director cut his teeth with the Ravens and learned from them: historically, sack production translates from college (especially in the SEC) to the NFL. Barnett might not be an elite athlete, but he has a terrific motor and wills his way to quarterbacks. Opposite Brandon Graham, there should be no dropoff with Barnett essentially replacing Connor Barwin.

FOX Sports: B-

My man looks thrilled here. Barnett is a high-floor, low-ceiling pick at a position of need for the Eagles. Nothing wrong with that. That said, they need a cornerback in the worst way and there were some good ones on the board.

Bleeding Green Nation: B+

Personally, I think Barnett is a fine pick. Not an awesome pick. Not an exciting pick. But that certainly doesn’t mean it was a bad one.

Part of what made the Barnett pick so unexciting is that he’s not a skill player. It would have been exciting to get another weapon for Carson Wentz. But the top three wide receivers in this class went off the board in the first nine picks. So it’s not like the Eagles had a chance at them.

 

 

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