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Eagles acquire edge rusher Genard Avery from Browns in NFL trade deadline move

The undersized pass rusher, who plays both defensive end and linebacker, was productive as a 2018 rookie.

Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Genard Avery (55) wasn't playing much under their new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Genard Avery (55) wasn't playing much under their new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.Read moreRon Schwane / AP
    by Les Bowen
    Published 

A day ahead of the 4 p.m. Tuesday NFL trade deadline, the Eagles moved to boost their lagging pass rush by acquiring second-year defensive end Genard Avery from the Cleveland Browns for an undisclosed 2021 draft pick, which ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said would be a fourth-rounder.

Avery was a 2018 fifth-round draft pick from Memphis who played 600 snaps and notched 4 1/2 sacks as a rookie, despite unimpressive size (6 feet, 250 pounds). But the Browns changed defensive coordinators and Avery, considered kind of a hybrid linebacker-pass rusher, hasn’t gotten on the field much this season. The Browns are deep at defensive end, his best position. As a linebacker, he reportedly struggled in pass coverage.

The Eagles have not gotten the pass rush they envisioned this season. Their bigger need is at defensive tackle, not defensive end, but any kind of help is better than nothing. Given the price, the team must feel pretty convinced Avery will be here a while, and isn’t just passing through.

To make room for Avery, the Eagles waived defensive tackle Bruce Hector, who came up from the practice squad and started opposite Fletcher Cox at Buffalo. Hector played 30 of a possible 62 defensive snaps on Sunday.

Hector can, of course, return to the practice squad if unclaimed, but it’s worth noting that for the third week in a row, the Eagles have waived a defensive starter the day after a game.