Is It Possible To Like The Eagles Taking DE Derek Barnett But Still Be Very, Very Sad?

BGN – With the 14th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett. Barnett, 20, measures in at 6-3, 260 pounds. He was a very productive player in college. Barnett broke the Volunteers’ sack record which was previously held by some guy named Reggie White. In three years at Tennessee, Barnett racked up 198 tackles (a whopping 52 for loss), 32 sacks, six pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and one interception.

First thing’s first, I like this kid as a player. He’s got a motor, works hard, and broke Reggie White’s sack record at Tennessee. Anytime you’re spoken in the same breath as The Minister, it’s a darn good thing. And I get the pick. There really wasn’t any other play besides Allen or Foster (who would’ve been my selection at the time because it would be nice to have a mean-mugging Alvin Mack type motherfucker to strike fear in everything for the next decade). Any CB or WR taken at 14 would’ve been considered a reach. All 3 QB’s were already picked so trading down was most likely a very difficult proposition. I’m fine with them taking Barnett, but…

It just puzzles and worries me that this move, yet again, was made to fix other missteps. Vinny Curry has been “Ready to breakout” for about 3 years now to the point where they invested in an extension for him before last season…when the FUCK is he going to do something? Anything? The dude couldn’t even crack the starting lineup and he was being lauded as the future DE of this franchise. And then there’s Marcus Smith – Howie Roseman’s admitted 1st round selection from 2014 that was projected to go 3rd-4th(!!!) round. We all know how that one turned out.

Drafting Barnett is a classic, “Well what else do you want them to do?” situation that this fanbase finds themselves asking way too often. Like, how about the Eagles get to the point where they don’t put themselves in this position in the first place? And I hear ya, I hear ya. “Hey Smitty you cheesedick blockhead, they’re still fixing Chip Kelly’s mistakes. What do you want them to do?” I don’t know. I don’t have the answers. Personally I would start with not having the same minds who HIRED CHIP KELLY IN THE FIRST PLACE still running the Eagles, but that’s just me (and common sense). But, yeah, what else do you want them to do? Let’s just keep falling back on that question and be fine with their responses, because apparantly just fucking winning is never a suitable answer for this franchise. All in all, I’m giving this a shot like a sheep because of the renowned Joey D. Basically, it comes down to if the Barnett pick directly influenced by Joe Douglas then I LOVE the move. However, if he was brought solely by the soulless tentacles of Howie Roseman, I don’t know what else to say. Maybe PMT can give their solid input on the pick:

And I LOVE how Howie, Doug, and Joe trotted out for a press conference IMMEDIATELY after the selection was made to explain their decision process. Like, really? Nobody loves to talk about and blow themselves when there’s something slightly positive to talk about more than this Eagles franchise (and conversely nobody loves to duck their heads in the sand when things go to shit). I mean, fuck being in the War Room while the clock is still running on the 1st round to try to see if anyone will give a great deal to trade up and get CB King or anything.