Colts Eyeing Derek Barnett's Return to Indianapolis
The Colts could benefit from signing former first-round draft pick Derek Barnett back to Indy.
The Indianapolis Colts have identified former first-round draft pick Derek Barnett as a player they should consider signing, according to NFL analyst Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report. After spending the past two years with the Houston Texans, where he had just five sacks each season, Barnett’s return could provide added depth for the defense. Barnett was drafted in 2017 by the Philadelphia Eagles but has since been a rotational player at defensive end in Houston since the 2022 offseason.
Despite limited snaps (less than 400 per year), he managed to register five sacks each season, placing him among the top pass-rushers of his position last year. The Colts’ need for additional talent in the defensive end position is clear following their signings of Arden Key and Micheal Clemons. While they could add another free agent or spend an early draft pick on the area, signing Barnett would provide a higher impact presence to balance out their current roster, particularly alongside Laiatu Latu.
With salary-cap flexibility, the Colts are in position to make yet another free agency move, potentially targeting Derek Barnett. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL free agency: Colts named fit for DE Derek Barnett.