In a surprising move, the Houston Texans have claimed defensive end Derek Barnett off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles, according to reports from ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Texans' interest in Barnett was evident, as they had considered a trade for him at the trade deadline last month.

The Eagles, prior to waiving Barnett, restructured his contract by converting salary into a bonus, as stated by ESPN's Field Yates. This restructuring means that the Texans will only be responsible for paying Barnett a base salary of $420,000 for the remainder of the season, along with small per-game roster bonuses.

Barnett, 27 years old, found himself as a healthy scratch for the final two games of his career with the Eagles. He had been listed on the injury report for personal reasons over the past two weeks.

During his tenure with the Eagles, Barnett played in eight games and saw a mere 99 defensive snaps. In that time, he recorded three tackles. However, his overall statistics display his capabilities, as the 2017 first-round pick has amassed 150 tackles, 21.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in his time in Philadelphia. Additionally, he made an impact in the postseason, contributing nine tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery in five appearances.

The Texans' acquisition of Barnett comes at a crucial time for the team, as they aim to strengthen their defensive unit. With his proven abilities, Barnett is expected to provide a valuable boost to their pass-rush capabilities. It remains to be seen how he will integrate into the Texans' system and make an impact on the field.

As the Texans gear up for the remainder of the season, the addition of Derek Barnett is undoubtedly a move aimed at bolstering their defensive prowess. Time will tell if this acquisition proves to be a successful one for the Texans and if Barnett can reignite his career in Houston.