Can a defendant waive his right to appeal in exchange for a lower sentence?

Defendant agreed to waive his right to appeal, along with a number of other rights, in exchange for a lower sentence. He received the benefit of that bargain; after subtracting three offense levels for acceptance of responsibility, the district court imposed a below-guidelines sentence. That he did not realize the strength of his potential appellate claims at the time that he entered into the plea agreement does not permit him to invalidate his knowing and voluntary waiver of appellate rights. United States v. Nguyen,235 F.3d 1179, 1184 (9th Cir.2000), abrogated on other grounds by United States v. Rahman,642 F.3d 1257, 1259 (9th Cir.2011). We will enforce a valid waiver even if the claims that could have been made on appeal absent

[806 F.3d 1211]