The Houston Texans need depth on their defensive line behind Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
Two seasons into his tenure, defensive end Derek Barnett might be the top No. 3 pass rusher in the league. He once again proved to be a stable fill-in starter behind the dynamic duo off NRG Drive.
After re-signing as a restricted free agent last year, Barnett will become an unrestricted free agent in March. That means he’ll be free to negotiate with any team if the Texans elect to let him walk in favor of re-signing other options like wide receiver Stefon Diggs or defensive back Eric Murray.
Pro Football Focus doesn’t think the Texans should let Barnett reach free agency, calling him the one player they can’t afford to lose this offseason.
“Barnett has been a nice rotational option for the Texans when either Danielle Hunter or Will Anderson Jr. have needed a break,” the publication wrote. “He has earned an excellent 83.9 PFF overall grade since arriving in Houston in Week 13 of the 2023 season. Perhaps Barnett found his ideal role with the Texans, playing a productive 15 to 30 snaps per game instead of trying to carry a starter’s workload.”
Barnett has gone from being a name picked up off waivers to perhaps the best No. 3 defensive end entering 2025. Even in a rotational role, his five sacks were more than a dozen starters on different teams. Add in his run-blocking potential and it’s hard to envision a world where Barnett isn’t considered one of the more well-versed options in the market.
The Texans would be wise to reward him with at least a multi-year extension, keeping him in Houston through at least 2025. Should he walk, defensive end moves up the pecking order of needs since Dylan Horton would be the only remaining option under contract with significant reps.
