Eagles Deal for Situational Pass Rusher Genard Avery
PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - The Eagles made a move in advance of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline but it wasn't the splash the fan base was hoping for.
Situational pass rusher Genard Avery was acquired from the Cleveland Browns for a 2021 fourth-round draft pick.
At 6-foot and 250 pounds, Avery is a tweener as an edge rusher but Philadelphia has liked his pass-rushing potential dating back to the 2018 draft where Avery was selected by the Browns in the fifth-round out of Memphis.
Avery was listed as a LB by the Browns but was called a DE by the Eagles when the trade was announced.
He played 58 percent of Cleveland's defensive snaps as a rookie and compiled 40 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks and 25 pressures but a defensive coaching change was not a positive one for Avery, who was essentially shelved by the Browns this season playing sparingly in only two games.
Avery is only on the second year on his rookie deal so he's both cost-effective and under Philadelphia control through the 2021 season.
To make room on the roster the Eagles waived defensive tackle Bruce Hector, who was just elevated from the practice squad for the Buffalo game. Hector, one of three DTs playing their first games of the season against the Bills, played the most (30 snaps, 48 percent) but Anthony Rush (12 snaps) and Albert Huggins (9 snaps) were signed off other practice squads and must stay on the roster for three weeks.
The trade deadline is 4 p.m. ET Tuesday.
-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen