/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52540943/usa-today-9777687.0.jpeg)
Introduction
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
High School: Brentwood Academy
Recruitment: 4 Stars
Awards
2014 Freshman All-SEC Team
2015 All-SEC AP Second Team
2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List
Measurables
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 257
Class: Junior
Projected 40 Time: 4.68
Stats
Year | Tackles | TFL | Sack | QB Hurries | PBU |
2014 | 72 | 20.5 | 10 | 8 | 0 |
2015 | 69 | 12.5 | 10 | 7 | 1 |
2016 | 56 | 19 | 13 | 16 | 5 |
Positives
- Good size
- Good speed for his size
- Has great knee bend around the edge
- Very disruptive
- 3 down guy
- He pursues very well
- Can beat double teams
- Can drop into coverage
Negatives
- Doesn’t have a great counter move
- Can be caught guessing the snap count
- Doesn’t recognize cut blocks early enough
- Doesn’t have an elite first step
- Some see him as just a 4-3 end
Conclusion
Barnett is one of my favorite edge rushers coming out this year. Derek has been incredibly productive over 3 year career at Tennessee. Barnett will be a 3 down player that can set the edge on run downs, and then be unleashed on passing downs. Some evaluators like Kiper believe he is only a 4-3 defensive end, but I don’t see that being much of a problem for the Jets. We run enough 4 man fronts where he can put his hand in the dirt. I also believe he is athletic enough to stand up if asked to. If we don’t go quarterback with our first pick, Barnett would not be a bad choice.
Draft Round Prediction: Top-10