Derrick Burgess

Burgess' impact has decreased in each of the last four seasons as injuries have hampered his production. He's certainly not getting any younger, but should at least better last season's 3.5 total sacks as long as he remains healthy. He's the latest in the Oakland-to-New England talent pipeline, figures to work as an outside linebacker and situational pass rusher in the Patriots' 3-4 defense. He'll provide an immediate boost to a rush that took a hit this offseason, when Mike Vrabel was traded.

After back-to-back campaigns with doubledigit sacks and 50-plus tackles, Burgess had eight sacks in 14 games last year and 39 tackles. He turns 30 in August and is showing some signs of decline, but he's a young 30 by NFL standards as he played sparingly in his first four NFL seasons. Undersized at 6-2, 266 for a defensive end, Burgess compensates with speed and quick hands that allow him to maneuver to the ball. A full season and an improved supporting cast could help him return to double-digit sacks in 2008, and he should once again be in the neighborhood of 45-50 tackles, not too shabby for a defensive lineman.

Burgess barely played for Philadelphia during the first four years of his career, in part due to season-erasing injuries in 2002 and 2003. Come 2005, he signed with Oakland and led the league with 16 sacks. Sure, he came out of nowhere, but last year Burgess proved he's no one-season wonder, turning in a slightly less stellar season, but one that’s still awfully solid for a IDP lineman. Burgess does it in part with his speed and athleticism, but also extend-o arms and quick hands that expertly keep blockers away from his body. With such strong technique and fantastic drive, the undersized end has developed into a leading threat, one of the few on Oakland’s defense.

Philadelphia got tired of waiting, so the good thing happened to Oakland instead. Burgess led the NFL in sacks last year with 16, including an amazing six games with multiple ones. Funny the mathematical games you can play when there are that many sacks to throw around. Don’t feel bad about not seeing this breakout season coming–no one did. He’d previously made just 8.5 sacks in 29 pro games. He was even harder to expect anything from since he missed essentially the entirety of 2002 to a broken foot before losing all of 2003 to a torn Achilles. When he returned in 2004, he posted just 2.5 sacks in 12 games, so it’s not surprising Philly let him sign with Oakland. He responded by leading all linemen in the year-end fantasy point standings. What Philly should have paid attention to was not his lack of size (6-2, 260), but that his intensity is just about unmatched in the league. With little track record, he’s tough to project or rely on for something similar this season, but at least now we know what he’s capable of.

Burgess, who signed as a free agent this offseason from Philadelphia, will be expected to contribute immediately from the left defensive end position, or weakside.

Burgess will back-up ND Kalu at the Eagles' right defensive end position in 2004.

In 2002 after a stellar training camp, Burgess broke a bone in his foot during the first game and missed the remainder of the season. In 2003, Burgess did not participate in minicamp so he is still a question mark. Barring any setbacks, he is expected to be the starter at right end. The Eagles plan to rotate their defensive lineman so expect them to bring Burgess along slowly.