A No. 3 pass-rusher in Houston, but a No. 1 on most teams.

The Houston Texans have some big names on their roster, mostly on the defensive side with Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. But some talented players’ve flown under the radar, including defensive lineman Derek Barnett.

Barnett, a former first-round pick by the Eagles in 2017, was picked up off waivers in the middle of the 2023 by Houston amid a run to the playoffs. He’s been a pleasant surprise on defense as a No. 3 pass-rusher behind former starter Jonathan Greenard, Hunter and Anderson, totaling at least seven tackles for loss in each season while combining for 8.5 sacks. Barnett has also started in a pinch for both Anderson and Hunter, who missed at least one game last season.

NFL.com’s Tom Blair dubbed Barnett the most underrated player on the Texans roster.

“Barnett played just 38% of the Texans‘ defensive snaps in 2024, easily the lowest in any season in which he suited up for more than one game, while compiling 5.0 sacks, tied for 72nd-most in the NFL. So what is he doing here?” Blair said in his explanation about why he selected Barnett. “Well, scan his Pro Football Reference page a little further, until you see the one bolded number indicating he led the league with two fumble recoveries returned for a touchdown last year.

“The former Eagles first-round pick, who was waived by Philly less than two years ago, might be long removed from his days as a regular starter, but he put himself in position to score when the ball bounced his way, matching a single-season high for fumble recovery TDs reached by just 35 other players since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. He also made an impact on his team — and that surely played a part in him landing another deal in Houston this offseason.” 

Barnett will also have to contend for playing time with new signee Darrell Taylor, who joins Houston after four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and one with the Chicago Bears. Houston also still has seventh-round pick Solomon Byrd, who carved out a role in the rotation late last season.

The Texans open the season on the road against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.