Former Tennessee standout Derek Barnett has landed with his third NFL team, agreeing to a deal with the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
According to a report from Jeremy Fowler, the contract is for one year and $5.5 million. Cleveland made the move after placing Alex Wright on injured reserve.
Barnett is now part of a Browns group that already includes two other former Vols: wide receiver Cedric Tillman and running back Dylan Sampson.
This will be Barnett’s 10th NFL season. He started his pro career with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played from 2017-2023 and won a Super Bowl. He then moved on to the Houston Texans, playing there from 2023-25.
At Tennessee, Barnett played from 2014-16 and built a resume that put him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, where he was selected 14th overall. His college honors included the All-SEC Freshman Team, two All-SEC Second-Team selections, one All-SEC First-Team nod and consensus All-American recognition.
Barnett’s biggest season came in 2016, when he piled up 13.0 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 56 tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles. His last college game, the Music City Bowl, also became a milestone moment: he notched the 32nd sack of his career to break Reggie White’s program record.
A Brentwood native who starred at Brentwood Academy, Barnett came to Tennessee as an in-state recruit. He was rated a four-star prospect and the No. 152 player in the country in the 2014 class by 247.
Barnett now joins a Browns team that finished 5-12 last season and ended up last in the AFC North. Cleveland is owned by Jimmy Haslam, a UT graduate.
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