April 5, 2026, 7:00 a.m. ET<\/p>\n
Still needing to add to the defensive end position, one NFL analyst believes the Indianapolis Colts<\/a> should sign former first-round draft pick Derek Barnett, who is still available in free agency.<\/p>\n Bleacher Report’s<\/a> Gary Davenport highlighted one remaining free agent option for each NFL team that would make sense to sign. For the Colts<\/a>, that player was Barnett.<\/p>\n “Despite playing less than 400 snaps each of the past two years in the shadow of Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter with the Houston Texans, Derek Barnett had five sacks both seasons,” Davenport wrote. “The former first-round pick could benefit from a higher snap count.”<\/p>\n Should the Colts sign free agent DE Derek Barnett?<\/p>\n Barnett was a first-round pick in 2017 by the Philadelphia Eagles. His most productive season as a pass-rusher came in 2019, when he logged 50 quarterback pressures and seven sacks, according to PFF.<\/p>\n Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\n He has since spent the last two-plus seasons in Houston, filling a rotational role at defensive end. With that, Barnett’s production won’t jump off the stat sheet, but he did rank 45th out of 124 eligible defensive ends in pass-rush win rate last season, showcasing his ability to still win his matchups.<\/p>\n For what it’s worth, throughout his career, PFF<\/a> has graded him as a good run defender as well.<\/p>\n What is the Colts’ need at defensive end?<\/p>\n